THE 

LIFE  AND  TIMES 


OF 


GEN.  FRANCIS   MARION 


WITH 


AN    APPENDIX. 


CONTAINING: 

BIOGRAPHICAL     NOTICES     OF     GREENE,     MORGAN,    PICKETS, 

SUMPTER,     WASHINGTON,     LEE,     DATIE,     AND     OTHEB 

DISTINGUISHED     OFFICERS    OF    THE     SOUTHERN 

CAMPAIGN,    DURING     THE     AMERICAN 

REVOLUTION. 


BY    H.  N.  MOORE. 
EMBELLISHED  WITH  EIGHT  ENGRAVINGS. 


PHILADELPHIA: 
PUBLISHED  BY  LEAEY,  GETZ  &  CO., 

224   NORTH   SECOND    STREET. 


according  to  act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1845,  by 

JOHN  B.  PERRY, 
In  the  office  of  the  Clerk  of  thn  Eastern  District  of  Penn'a. 


THE  LIFE  AND  TIMES 

OF 

FRANCIS    MARION. 

CHAPTER  I. 

Some  account  of  Mar  toil's  family — his  birth — early  life 
— his  voyage  to  sea,  and  shipwreck — remains  at  home 
a  planter.  Indian  insurrections.  Marion' s  first  cam 
paign  against  the  Chcrokees— frightful  picture  of  In 
dian  warfare.  Marion's  letter.  Marion  among  the 
first  to  espouse  the  cause  of  his  country  in  its  struggles 
with  British  tyranny — his  active  measures — elecled  a 
captain  under  the  gallant  Moultrie — bombardment  of 
Fort  Sullivan  by  the  British  fieet — gallant  defence  of 
the  fort — anecdotes,  etc. 

As  a  man  and  a  patriot,  bright  is  the  example  we  have 
in  the  career  of  Francis  Marion.  Asa  soldier,  his  name, 
more  than  any  other,  is  identified  with  the  stratagic  wis 
dom,  heroic  exploits  and  military  successes  of  the  parti- 
zan  war  in  the  Carolinas,  during  the  Revolution  ;  a  war 
in  which  he  "  and  his  brigade  were  so  distinguished," 
says  Dr.  Ramsay,  "  and  at  the  same  time  so  detached 
in  their  operations,  as  to  merit  and  require  particular 
notice."  In  following  him  through  the  trying  times  in 
which  he  acted,  much  cause  as  we  shall  have  to  glory 
in  him  as  a  military  chieftain,  we  shall  have  no  less 
reason  to  admire  the  self-command,  rectitude,  and  ever* 
active  humanity  of  his  character. 

(7) 


8  MARION    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

The  family  of  Marion  was  one  of  the  many  Pro 
testant  ones  who  who  fled  from  France  in  consequence 
of  the  persecutions  they  experienced  under  the  reign  of 
Louis  XIV.  These  dissenters  from  the  Catholic  reli« 
gion  were  termed  Huguenots,  and  our  hero's  grand 
lather,  towards  the  close  of  the  seventeenth  century, 
left  France  and  emigrated  to  the  shores  of  America. 
His  son,  Gabriel  Marion,  was  the  father  of  Francis 
Marion,  whose  birth  occurred  at  a  place  called  Winyah, 
(S.  C.)  in  the  year  1732  or  1733.  Biographers  differ 
as  to  the  year,  but  we  are  inclined  to  receive  the  earlier 
date  as  the  more  correct  of  the  two.  Francis  Marion 
was  the  youngest  of  several  children.  He  had  four 
brothers  and  two  sisters.  "  I  have  it  from  good  author 
ity,'1  says  Weems,*  "  that  this  great  soldier,  at  his  birth, 
was  not  larger  than  a  New-England  lobster,  and  might 
easily  enough  have  been  put  into  a  quart  pot."  And 
all  the  accounts  we  have,  concur  in  regard  to  the  fact, 
that  he  was  a  puny  and  sickly  infant ;  so  much  so,  that 
it  was  thought  he  would  never  survive  till  manhood. 
He  however,  lived  through  infancy,  and  at  the  age  of 
sixteen,  such  had  been  the  change  of  his  constitution, 
he  was  an  active  and  daring  boy,  who  had  already  con 
ceived  a  strong  notion  of  leaving  the  farmer's  life  he 
had  been  brought  up  to,  and  entering  upon  that  of  a 
sailor.  The  quiet  life  of  the  farmer  was  not  one  suited 
to  his  disposition,  and  though  his  mother  endeavored 
to  dissuade  him  from  his  inclination,  his  mind  was  de 
termined,  and  she  finally  yielded  a  reluctant  consent. 
He  started,  as  a  sailor  before  the  mast,  upon  a  voyage 
to  the  West  Indies,  and  had  the  .misfortune  to  be  ship 
wrecked.  The  ship  foundered,  says  tradition,  from  the 
injury  done  her  by  the  stroke  of  a  large  whale.  The 

*  Weems'  Life  of  Gen.  Francis  Marion, 


INDIAN  INSURRECTIONS.  9 

crew  escaped  from  the  sinking  vessel  in  the  jolly-boat, 
and  were  tossed  about  on  the  ocean  in  a  helpless  condi 
tion  for  more  than  a  week,  when  they  were  picked  up 
by  a  passing  vessel.  While  in  the  boat,  they  were 
without  provisions,  and  had  subsisted  on  the  raw  flesh 
and  blood  of  a  dog,  which,  as  the  ship  was  sinking, 
jumped  into  the  boat.  Six  persons  had  entered  this 
boat,  but  only  four  were  taken  from  it  by  the  passing- 
vessel.  The  captain  and  mate,  in  a  state  of  phrenzy, 
produced  from  exposure  to  the  rays  of  a  scorching  sun, 
and  the  use  of  salt-water,  had  the  day  before  thrown 
themselves  overboard,  and  perished.  Marion  and  three 
others  finally  reached  their  homes.  Marion,  in  com 
pliance  with  the  earnest  entreaties  of  his  mother,  re 
sumed  his  occupation  of  farming,  at  which  he  indus 
triously  continued,  and,  at  the  death  of  his  father  in 
1758,  he  settled  himself,  at  the  age  of  twenty-six,  upon 
a  place  that  is  called  Pond  Bluff. 

The  colony  of  South  Carolina,  like  other  provinces 
of  North  America,  was  much  harrassed  by  the  preda 
tory  incursions  of  Indians,  and  in  the  beginning  of  the 
year  1759  a  war  broke  out  between  the  colonists  and 
the  Cherokee  tribe,  and  Marion  turned  out  with  the 
militia  ;  but  a  treaty  of  peace  was  soon  concluded,  the 
Indians  not  finding  matters  in  the  train  they  expected, 
and  by  which  they  anticipated  a  butchering  conquest 
over  the  white  men.  Scarcely  were  the  militia  dis 
banded  before  the  treacherous  Cherokees  again  showed 
signs  of  hostility,  and,  such  were  their  agressions  upon 
the  frontier  settlements,  that  it  was  the  next  year  decided 
that  the  country  of  the  Indians  should  be  invaded.  The 
command  of  the  whole  forces  now  raised  was  given  to 
Col.  Grant  of  the  British  army,  and  Marion  was  ap 
pointed  lieutenant  of  a  native  regiment,  under  the  imme- 


10  MARION    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

diate  command  of  Col.  Moultrie,  himself  under  the 
command  of  Col.  Middleton. 

The  combined  forces  under  Colonels  Grant  and  Mid 
dleton  advanced  (in  June  1761)  into  the  Indian. country. 
The  approach  was  of  course,  from  the  kind  of  warfare 
carried  on  by  the  enemy,  conducted  with  caution,  and 
finding  that  the  adversary  was  advantageously  posted 
behind  the  thick  wood  crowning  a  mountain,  through  a 
dark  defile  of  which  the  road  lay.  This,  it  was  re 
solved,  should  be  forced  rapidly  by  a  small  body  of 
soldiers,  whilst  the  main  army  passed.  For  this  peril 
ous  enterprise  a  "  forlorn  hope"  of  thirty  men,  headed 
by  Francis  Marion,  was  chosen.  Marion,  with  a  heart 
undaunted  by  the  almost  certain  death  that  awaited  him, 
took  the  lead  of  his  chosen  band,  and  advanced  with 
courageous  rapidity,  whilst  the  main  army  followed  to 
support  him  and  effect  their  passage.  No  sooner  had 
Marion  and  his  men  entered  the  dark  defile,  than  the 
loud  war-whoop  resounded  from  all  sides,  and  a  de 
structive  fire  blazed  forth  from  behind  the  trees.  Twenty 
one  of  the  forlorn  hope  instantly  were  killed,  and  the 
hideously  painted  savages  rushed  forth  in  pursuit,  with 
demonical  yells  and  brandished  tomahawks.  Marion 
and  his  remnant  of  men  fell  back  to  the  main  army. 

The  commanding  officers,  fully  aware  that  a  sangui 
nary  conflict  was  at  hand,  animated  their  soldiers  on, 
and  represented  the  peculiar  demand  there  now  was  for 
exertions  of  valor,  inasmuch  as  if  defeated  they  would 
be  the  victims  of  an  indiscriminate  slaughter.  The 
soldiers  cheered,  and  advanced  gallantly  to  the  conflict, 
determined  to  yield  then  only  with  their  lives — they 
knew  no  quarter  would  be  shown  to  a  prisoner,  and  that 
they  must  gain  the  victory  or  die  on  the  spot.  The  Indians, 
too,  were  defending  the  most  important  pass  into  their 


INDIAN  WARFARE.  1 1 

country,  and  it  could  not  be  otherwise  expected  than 
that  they  would  fight  with  signal  bravery.  And  now 
followed  the  sharp  crack  of  rifle  after  rifle;  here,  there, 
and  on  all  sides,  the  flash  illumed  the  dark  lurking  place 
of  the  foe;  the  bayonet  of  the  soldier  would  be  plunged 
into  the  thicket,  its  point  penetrating  the  breast  of  an  In 
dian,  and  at  the  same  instant  a  ball  reaches  his  own 
heart,  he  and  his  enemy  falling  dead  side  by  side. 
Long  the  contest  continued  without  any  decisive  result, 
and  terrible  was  the  carnage  on  both  sides ;  but  at  last 
it  could  be  perceived  that  victory  leaned  to  the  side  of 
the  army ;  that  the  Indian,  who  repeatedly  dislodged, 
had  as  desperately  returned  to  the  combat,  was  now  re 
luctantly  yielding.  The  battle  raged  with  great  spirit 
for  three  hours,  and  in  an  hour  more  the  surviving 
soldiers  of  the  army  had  the  satisfaction  of  congratula 
ting  each  other  upon  a  hard-fought  victory. 

Colonel  Grant  followed  up  his  victory  by  pursuing 
the  flying  foe  into  the  heart  of  their  country,  burning 
their  towns,  ravaging  their  corn-fields,  and  taking  all 
possible  means  to  punish  them  for  their  inhuman  ag 
gressions  upon  the  frontier  settlements.  Notso  much  for 
vengeance  was  the  object,  but  to  deter  them  from  future 
encroachments  by  the  severe  retribution  that  they  must 
expect  from  this  precedent.  It  is  said  that  Marion  long 
after  looked  back  upon  the  horrors  of  this  war  with  a 
feeling  of  sorrow  ;  and  that  such  was  the  fact,  is  corrob 
orated  by  his  own  words  in  a  letter  written  to  a  friend. 
He  writes  as  follows  :  "  We  arrived  at  the  Indian 
towns  in  the  month  of  July.  As  the  lands  were  rich, 
and  the  season  favorable,  the  corn  was  bending  under 
the  double  weight  of  lusty  roasting  ears  and  pods  of 
clustering  beans.  The  furrows  seemed  to  rejoice  under 
their  precious  loads ;  the  fields  stood  thick  with  bread. 


12  MARION  AND  HIS  TIMES. 

We  encamped  the  first  night  in  the  woods,  near  the 
fields,  where  the  whole  army  feasted  on  the  young  corn, 
which,  with  fat  venison,  made  a  most  delicious  treat. 
The  next  morning  we  proceeded,  by  order  of  Colonel 
Grant,  to  burn  down  the  Indian  cabins.  Some  of  our 
men  seemed  to  enjoy  this  cruel  work,  laughing  very 
heartily  at  the  curling  flames,  as  they  mounted,  loud 
crackling,  over  the  tops  of  the  huts.  But  to  me  it  ap 
peared  a  shocking  sight.  "  Poor  creatures  !"  thought 
I,  "  we  surely  need  not  grudge  you  such  miserable 
habitations."  But  when  we  came  (according  to  orders) 
to  cut  down  the  fields  of  corn,  I  could  scarcely  refrain 
from  tears.  For  who  could  see  the  stalks  that  stood  so 
stately,  with  broad  green  leaves  and  gaily-tasseled 
shocks,  filled  with  sweet  milky  fluid  and  flour,  the  staff 
of  life ; — who,  I  say,  without  grief  could  see  these  sa 
cred  plants  sinking  under  our  swords,  with  all  their 
precious  load,  to  wither  and  rot  untasted  in  their  mourn 
ing  fields  ? 

"  I  saw  everywhere  around,"  continues  his  letter, 
"  the  footsteps  of  the  little  Indian  children,  where  they 
had  lately  played  under  the  shade  of  their  rustling  corn. 
No  doubt  they  had  often  looked  up  with  joy  to  the 
swelling  shocks,  and  gladdened  when  they  thought  of 
their  abundant  cakes  for  the  coming  winter.  When  we 
are  gone,  thought  I,  they  will  return,  and  peeping 
through  the  weeds  with  tearful  eyes,  will  mark  the 
ghastly  ruin  poured  over  their  homes  and  happy  fields, 
where  they  had  so  often  played.  "  Who  did  this  ?  they 
will  ask  their  mothers.  "  The  white  people,  the  Christ 
ians  did  it !"  will  be  the  reply. 

The  disastrous  result  of  this  war,  (to  the  Indians) 
seems  to  have  broken  up  all  their  hopes,  and  in  a  mea 
sure  to  have  crushed  their  spirit  forever.  Marion  again 


STAMP  ACT.  13 

retired  to  private  life,  fulfilling  his  duties  as  a  citizen  and 
a  farmer,  and  for  fourteen  years  he  continued  this  peace 
ful  life,  and  by  the  honesty  of  his  dealings  and  the  pro 
bity  of  his  character,  he  gained  the  esteem  of  all  that 
knew  him,  and  it  is  said  no  man  was  so  universally 
beloved  by  his  neighbors.  Thus  we  find  him  when 
hostilities  commenced  between  the  colonies  and  Great 
Britain. 

Everything  in  South  Carolina  contributed  to  nourish 
a  spirit  of  liberty  and  independence.  Its  settlement 
was  nearly  coeval  with  the  Revolution  in  England, 
(1 688,)  and  many  of  its  inhabitants  had  imbibed  a  large 
portion  of  that  spirit  which  brought  one  tyrant  to  the 
block*  and  expelled  another  from  his  dominions. f 
Every  inhabitant  was,  or  easily  might  be  a  freeholder. 
Settled  on  lands  of  his  own,  he  was  both  farmer  and 
landlord.  Having  no  superiors  to  whom  he  was  obliged 
to  look  up,  and  producing  all  the  necessaries  of  life 
from  his  own  grounds,  he  soon  became  independent. 

The  first  statue  that  roused  general  and  united  op 
position  to  British  taxation  was  the  memorable  Stamp 
Act,  passed  in  the  year  1765.  By  this  it  was  enacted, 
that  the  instruments  of  writing  which  are  in  daily  use 
among  a  commercial  people  should  be  void  in  law  un 
less  executed  on  stamped  paper,  or  parchment,  charged 
with  a  duty  imposed  by  the  British  parliament.  The 
indignation  which  this  roused,  induced  an  uniform  line 
of  conduct  to  be  adopted  by  the  different  colonies,  and 
a  congress  of  deputies  from  each  province  was  recom 
mended.  This  first  step  towards  Continental  Union, 
was  adopted  in  South  Carolina  before  it  had  been  agreed 
to  by  any  colony  to  the  southward  of  New  England. 
The  example  of  this  province  had  a  considerable  influ- 

2 
*  Charles  I.  t  James  II. 


14  MARION    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

ence  in  recommending  the  measure  to  others  who  were 
more  tardy  in  their  concurrence.  The  colonies  on  this 
occasion  not  only  presented  petitions  and  remonstrances 
to  the  British  government,  but  spiritedly  entered  into 
associations  against  importing  British  manufactures  till 
the  Stamp  Act  should  be  repealed — and  they  obtained 
their  point. 

The  experiment  of  taxation,  however,  was  renewed 
in  the  year  1767,  but  in  a  more  artful  manner.  Small 
duties  were  imposed  on  glass,  paper,  tea,  and  painter's 
colors.  The  colonists  again  remonstrated,  again  asso 
ciated  to  import  no  more  British  manufactures.  And 
a  second  time  did  the  government  make  a  concession. 

In  the  year  1773  a  scheme  was  adopted  by  the  East- 
India  company,  to  export  large  quantities  of  tea,  to  be 
sold  on  their  account  in  several  capitals  of  the  British 
colonies.  The  colonists  reasoned  with  themselves,  tha,. 
as  the  duty,  and  the  price  of  the  commodity  were  in- 
separably  blended  if  the  tea  was  sold,  every  purchaser 
would  pay  a  tax  imposed  by  the  British  parliament  as 
a  part  of  the  purchase-money ;  *and,  determined  never 
to  submit  to  British  taxation,  they  everywhere  entered 
into  combinations  to  obstruct  the  sales  of  the  tea  sent 
out  by  the  East-India  Company.  The  cargoes  sent  to 
South  Carolina  were  stored,  the  consignees  being  re 
strained  from  exposing  it  to  sale.  In  other  provinces, 
the  landing  of  it  being  forbidden,  the  captain's  were 
obliged  to  return  without  discharging  their  cargoes.  In 
Boston  a  few  men,  disguised  as  Indians,  threw  all  the 
tea  overboard  from  the  ships  lying  at  the  wharves. 
When  the  intelligence  of  this  reached  England,  the 
British  parliament  proceeded  to  take  legislative  ven 
geance  on  that  city.' 

This  measure  of  hostility  towards  Massachusetts  had 


15 

for  its  object  the  dissevering  of  the  other  provinces  from 
her,  but  its  effect  was  directly  contrary.  The  other 
colonies  determined  to  support  her,  and,  as  has  been 
stated,  South  Carolina  was  the  first  southern  province 
that  did  so.  The  whole  country  resounded  with  din 
of  martial  preparation.  Volunteer  companies  were  or 
ganized  in  every  city,  town  and  hamlet,  throughout  the 
provinces.  Guns,  powder,  and  the  implements  of  war, 
were  collected,  and  carefully  treasured  from  the  eyes 
of  the  government's  officers  and  spies  ;  and  liberal  sums 
of  money  were  contributed  by  persons  of  every  rank 
and  age,  and  the  liveliest  enthusiasm  prevailed  for  the 
cause  of  liberty. 

Marion  at  once  espoused  the  cause  of  his  country — 
his  native  land  ;  and  that  chivalrous  feeling  which  so 
unhesitatingly  prompted  his  heart  to  assert  the  undeni 
able  rights  of  mankind,  at  the  same  time  rendered  him 
prompt  in  action.  Not  like  your  milk-and-water  pa 
triots  who  only  talk  of  liberty,  he  went  boldly  forward 
toc?o.  Many  of  his  tory-hearted  fellow-citizens  wavered 
between  their  fears,  and  doubtful  of  the  issue,  desired 
to  be  on  the  successful  side.  Policy,  not  principle, 
governed  their  craven  hearts.  Marion,  unlike  these, 
convinced  of  the  justice  of  his  cause,  was  bravely 
ready  to  do  and  die  for  it,  and  was  one  of  the  foremost 
of  those  gallant  spirits  who  enlisted  in  the  army  raised 
by  the  legislature  of  his  native  state.  He  was  also  a 
member  of  the  Provincial  Congress  of  South  Carolina, 
which  in  the  exigency  of  the  case  was  called  together, 
sitting  as  a  representative  from  Berkeley  County. 

No  sooner  had  the  news  of  the  battle  of  Lexington 
reached  Charleston  than  the  following  act  was  passed. 
"  The  actual  commencement  of  hostilities  against  this 
Continent  by  the  British  troops,  in  the  bloody  scene 


16  MARION  AND  HIS  TIMES, 

of  the  1 9th  of  April  last,*  near  Boston — the  increase 
of  arbitrary  imposition  from  a  wicked  and  despotic 
ministry — and  the  dread  insurrections  in  the  Colonies 
— are  causes  sufficient  to  drive  an  oppressed  people  to 
the  use  of  arms.  We,  therefore,  the  subscribers,  in 
habitants  of  South  Carolina,  holding  ourselves  bound 
by  that  most  sacred  of  all  obligations,  the  duty  of  good 
citizens  to  an  injured  country,  and  thoroughly  con 
vinced,  that  under  our  present  distressed  circumstances, 
we  shall  be  justified  before  God  and  man,  in  resisting 
force  by  force — do  unite  ourselves,  under  every  tie  of 
religion  and  honor,  and  associate  as  a  band  in  her  de 
fence,  against  every  foe — hereby  solemnly  engaging, 
that,  whenever  our  Continental  and  Provincial  Council 
shall  deem  it  necessary,  we  will  go  forth,  and  be  ready 
to  sacrifice  our  lives  and  fortunes  to  secure  her  freedom 
and  safety.  This  obligation  to  continue  in  force,  until 
a  reconciliation  shall  take  place  between  Great  Britain 
and  America  upon  Constitutional  principles — an  event 
which  we  most  ardently  desire.  And,  we  hold  all  those 
persons  inimical  to  the  liberty  of  the  Colonies,  who 
shall  refuse  to  subscribe  to  this  association."! 

Declarations  similar  to  the  above  were  passed  in 
most  of  the  Provinces,  and  we  perceive  that  a  final 
separation  from  the  Mother  Country  was  not  as  yet 
contemplated,  the  object  in  view  extended  no  farther 
than  to  a  redress  of  grievances.  (It  was  not  until  a  year 
later  that  on  the  4th  of  July  1776,  delegates  from  each 
state  assembled  at  Philadelphia,  and  passed  that  cele 
brated  Declaration  which  is  now  the  charter  of  our 
liberties.) 

Two  regiments  were  to  be  raised  in  South  Carolina, 

*  In  the  year  1775.  t  Vide  Ramsay,  vol  2.  page  236. 


BATTLE   AT  FORT  SULLIVAN.  17 

and  Francis  Marion  was  chosen  a  captain  in  the 
second,  of  which  William  Moultrie,  under  whom  Ma 
rion  had  served  in  the  Indian  wars,  was  appointed 
colonel.  The  officers  at  once  set  about  making  re 
cruits.  Captain  Horry,  Marion's  firm  friend  through 
out  all  his  future  career,  and  who  was  elected  an 
officer  in  the  same  regiment  at  the  same  time,  accom 
panied  Marion  on  his  recruiting  exoedition. 

Many  amusing  incidents  are  recorded  as  having 
occured  to  these  officers  in  the  duty  upon  which  they 
were  now  engaged,  but  we  pass  over  them  to  follow 
more  particularly  the  momentous  and  chivalrous  deeds 
of  our  hero,  merely  stating  that  the  officers  were  suc 
cessful  in  raising  (notwithstanding  the  amount  of 
Tory  opposition  they  encountered)  two  regiments  of 
South  Carolinians. 

The  erection  of  Fort  Sullivan  on  Sullivan's  Island 
was  now  commenced  and  rapidly  proceeded  with.  The 
defence  of  this-  fort  was  confided  to  the  gallant  Moul 
trie,  with  about  four  hundred  men,  and  thirty  pieces  of 
cannon.  Daily  in  expectation  of  a  British  fleet,  the 
men  worked  with  untiring  industry,  and  on  the  31st  of 
May,*  a  fleet  appeared  in  sight.  And  now,  for  nearly 
a  month,  tides,  calms  and  baffling  winds,  conspired  to 
frustrate  the  fleet,  and  they  were  not  enabled  to  get 
within  the  bar  till  the  27th  of  June.  In  the  meantime 
the  works  of  the  fort  were  carried  on,  and  indefatigable 
preparations  made  to  receive  the  enemy.  On  the 
morning  of  the  28th,  the  fleet,  commanded  by  Sir  Peter 
Parker,  came  up  with  a  fine  breeze,  and  all  sails  set, 
before  the  fort  and  dropped  anchor.  Instantly  the 
bombardment  commenced.  The  British  outnumbered 

*  1776. 
2* 


18  MARION   AND  HIS  TIMES. 

the  Americans  in  men  and  guns.  From  the  port 
holes  of  nine  ships  was  an  unceasing  fire  kept  up, 
whilst  the  defenders  of  the  fort,  stripping  off  their  coats, 
(the  weather  was  very  hot)  fired  their  guns,  loaded, 
fired  again,  and  worked  like  men  brave  in  a  righteous 
cause.  For  eleven  hours  the  action  lasted,  in  which 
time  such  terrible  destruction  was  made  upon  the 
enemy's  fleet  that  Sir  Peter  Parker  moved  off,  and  the 
gallant  defenders  of  the  fort  found  themselves  victorious 
over  a  foe  that  battled  in  the  cause  of  tyranny.  Con 
spicuous  throughout  the  action  was  Marion,  and  he 
often  leveled  the  guns  himself.  He,  Moultrie,  and 
several  of  the  officers,  (such  was  their  coolness  in  the 
midst  of  the  balls  that  everywhere  fell  around  them) 
smoked  their  pipes,  laying  them  down  only  when  their 
duties  called  them  to  give  orders,  or,  as  we  said  of 
Marion,  when  they  relieved  a  soldier  at  a  gun. 

During  the  action  a  ball  from  the  fleet  struck  the 
flag-staff,  which  fell  on  the  beach,  outside  of  the  breast 
work,  Jasper,  a  serjeant  of  grenadiers,  immediately,  in 
face  of  the  enemy's  fire,  leaped  over  the  ramparts, 
picked  it  up,  regained  the  inside  of  the  fort  in  safety, 
and  restored  the  flag  to  its  place. 

At  one  period  of  the  action,  the  want  of  powder  was 
severely  felt  by  the  Americans,  and  Marion,  with  a 
small  party  left  the  fort,  seized  upon  an  armed  schooner, 
(it  is  said,  and  we  have  no  reason  to  disbelieve  the 
tradition)  and  thus  obtained  a  supply  of  powder  suffi 
cient  to  keep  up  the  fire  until  a  quantity  was  received 
from  Charleston. 

Tradition  also  awards  to  the  aim  of  Marion  the  tremen 
dous  effect  of  the  last  shot  that  was  fired  from  the  fort. 
It  was  aimed  at  the  Bristol,  (the  commodore's  ship)  and 
entering  one  of  the  cabin  windows,  struck  down  two 


THE  BRITISH  DEFEATED  19 

officers  who  were  drinking,  and,  ranging  through  the 
bulk-heads  and  steerage,  killed  three  sailors.  This  in 
formation  was  got  from  five  sailors  of  the  British  fleet, 
who  that  night  deserted  and  came  to  the  Americans. 

The  loss  of  the  British  in  this  engagement,  by  their 
own  account,  was  113  killed  and  sixty  wounded.  Sir 
Peter  Parker  lost  an  arm  upon  the  occasion.  On  the 
other  side  their  was  but  about  12  killed  arid  25 
wounded.'  The  vessels  of  the  British,  two  of  them 
especially,  were  greatly  damaged,  and  one,  called  the 
Acteon  run  a  ground  and  was  afterwards  burnt. 

This  defence  of  Fort  Sullivan  (or  Fort  Moultrie,  as 
it  was  subsequently  named  in  honor  of  the  brave  man 
who  so  successfully  commanded  it  upon  this  occasion) 
is  one  of  the  most  brilliant  achievements  that  the  his 
tory  of  our  country  records,  and  it  was  of  incalcuable 
importance  to  the  cause  of  liberty  throughout  the  colo 
nies.  Moultrie  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Brigadier 
General ;  Marion  to  that  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  in  the 
regular  service. 


CHAPTER  II. 

Declaration  of  Independence.  The  British  at  Savannah 
— arrival  of  the  French  Fleet — activily  oC Marion — the 
battle — deaths  of  Count  Pulaski  and  Serjeant  Jasper 
— Charlestown  besieged  by  the  British — anecdote  of 
Marion — surrender  of  Charleston — massacre  of  the 
Americans  at  the  Waxhaw  settlements — hair-breadth 
escapes  of  Marion ;  he  retires  to  North  Carolina,  and 
joins  the  army  under  Gates.  A  description  of  Marion 
and  his  men.  Battle.  Gates  defeated — brave  conduct 
-  and  glorious  death  of  De  Kalb.  Marion  and  his  men 
burning  boats. 

THE  Declaration  of  Independence,  proclaimed  in 
Philadelphia  on  the  4th  of  July,  was  hailed  in  Charles- 
ton  with  great  rejoicings,  and  the  news  of  the  battle  of 
Fort  Moultrie  was  welcomed  in  return  with  corres 
ponding  manifestations  of  joy  at  Philadelphia,  and 
throughout  the  confederated  colonies. 

The  inhabitants  of  all  the  colonies,  while  colonies, 
admitted  themselves  bound  by  their  allegiance  to  the 
king ;  but  they  disclaimed,  altogether,  the  authority  of 
parliament;  holding  themselves,  in  this  respect,  to  re 
semble  the  condition  of  Scotland  and  Ireland,  before 
the  respective  unions  of  those  kingdoms  with  England, 
when  they  acknowledged  allegiance  to  the  same  king, 
but  each  had  its  separate  legislature.  The  tie,  there 
fore,  which  our  revolution  was  to  break,  did  not  sub 
sist  between  us  and  the  British  parliament,  or  between 
us  and  the  British  government,  in  the  aggregate ;  but 
directly  between  us  and  the  king  himself.  The  colo- 

20 


SERJEANT   JASPER.  21 

nies  had  never  admitted  themselves  subject  to  par 
liament.  That  was  precisely  the  point  of  the  original 
controversy.  They  had  uniformly  denied  that  parlia 
ment  had  authority  to  make  laws  for  them.* 

The  South  Carolianians  expected  another  visit  of  the 
British,  but  they  kept  their  fleet  otherwise  employed 
on  the  Northern  coast,  and  it  was  not  until  the  close  of 
the  year  1778  that  the  fleet  again  came  south,  and 
their  destination  turned  out  to  be  Savannath  instead 
of  Charleston.  In  December  four  thousand  men  were 
disembarked  from  their  fleet  of  upwards  of  thirty  sail. 

The  great  number  of  these  loyalists  in  Georgia, 
encouraged  the  British,  and,  after  the  disembarkment 
of  their  troops  and  the  fall  of  Savannah  into  their 
hands,  they  rapidly  possessed  themselves  of  Ebenezer, 
Abercorn,  and  other  posts  in  the  interior.  General 
Lincoln  commanded  the  forces  of  the  Americans,  but, 
so  small  was  his  number,  he  was  unable  to  oppose  the 
enemy  with  any  degree  of  effect. 

While  the  main  army  of  the  British  was  encamped 
at  Abercorn,  the  Americans  lay  but  a  few  miles 
from  them,  on  the  Savannah,  at  a  place  called  Purys- 
burg.  And  while  at  Purysburg,  there  occurred  an 
adventure,  the  hero  of  which  was  one  of  Marion's  men, 
and  the  gaJlant  William  Jasper,  of  whom  we  had  occa 
sion  to  speak  in  account  of  the  defence  of  Fort  Sullivan. 
"  Jasper  was  a  perfect  Proteus,  in  ability  to  alter  his 
appearance,  perpetually  entering  the  camp  of  the 
enemy  without  detection,  and  invariably  returning  to 
his  own,  with  soldiers  he  had  seduced,  or  prisoners  he 
had  captured. "f  "  He  often  went  out,"  is  the  lan 
guage  of  Moultrie,  "  and  returned  with  prisoners 

*  Daniel  Webster,  t  Garden's  Anecdotes. 


22  MAHION    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

before  I  knew  that  he  was  gone.  I  have  known  of  his 
catching  a  party  that  was  looking  for  him.  He  has 
told  me  that  he  could  have  killed  single  men  several 
times,  but  he  would  not ;  he  would  rather  let  them  off. 
He  went  into  the  British  lines  at  Savannah,  as  a  de 
serter,  complaining,  at  the  same  time,  of  our  ill-usage 
of  him.  He  was  gladly  received,  (they  having  heard 
of  his  character)  and  caressed  by  them.  He  stayed 
eight  days,  and  after  informing  himself  well  of  their 
strength,  situation  and  intentions,  he  returned  to  us 
again  ;  but  this  game  he  could  not  play  a  second  time. 
With  his  little  party  he  was  always  hovering  about  the 
enemy's  camp,  and  was  frequently  bringing  in  pris 
oners." 

Jasper  had  a  brother  who  had  espoused  the  other 
side  of  the  contest,  and  was  at  this  period  in  the  British 
garrison  at  Ebenezer,  holding  the  rank  of  a  ser- 
jeant.  Wishing  to  see  this  brother,  Jasper  made  his 
appearance  in  the  British  garrison,  much  to  the  alarm 
of  the  other. 

"  What  brings  you  here,  William  !  Your  name  is 
well  known  !  You  will  be  hung  for 'a  spy  !"  agitatedly 
remarked  the  Tory  brother. 

"Give  yourself  no  uneasiness,  brother,"  cooly  re 
plied  Jasper — "  I  am  no  longer  an  American  soldier." 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  you  say  so,  brother — glad  to 
find  you  ready  to  serve  the  King  !"  exclaimed  the  Tory. 

"You  mistake,"  said  Jasper.  "  You  presume  1 
have  come  to  enlist  myself  under  the  flag  of  England, 
but  it  is  not  so.  Little  as  is  the  encouragement  I  have 
in  fighting  for  my  country,  yet  I  have  not  the  heart  to 
fight  against  her,  brother !" 


PRISONERS    IN    THE    FORT.  23 

Jasper  remained  two  or  three  days  with  his  brother, 
and  there  is  no  doubt  he  took  notice  of  all  that  invited 
his  observation  in  the  garrison.  Bidding  his  brother 
adieu,  he  stole  out  of  the  garrison  at  night,  and  re 
joined  the  Americans,  reporting  the  amount  of  informa 
tion  he  had  picked  up. 

Some  weeks  after  this,  Jasper  took  it  into  his  head 
to  pay  his  brother  another  visit  at  Ebenezer,  taking 
along  with  him  serjeant  Newton,  a  comrade,  a 
strong  and  active  man,  and  fully  his  own  match  in 
feats  of  daring  and  enterprize.  The  Tory  brother 
received  Jasper  and  Newton  kindly,  and  the  three 
passed  away  the  time  quite  agreeably  in  the  garrison. 

One  day  a  party  of  prisoners  were  brought  into  the 
fort,  on  their  way  to  Savannah,  to  which  place  a 
British  officer  was  conducting  them  for  trial.  In 
speaking  of  the  matter,  "  It  will  go  hard  with  them," 
said  Jasper's  Tory  brother.  "It's  my  opinion  they'll  be 
hung  certain,  for  they  took  arms  with  us  and  received 
the  King's  bounty;  but  when  the  American  army  raised, 
they  broke  their  faith  to  the  King  and  joined  them." 

The  prisoners  were  hand-cuffed,  and  presented  a 
pity-impressive  sight  to  both  Jasper  and  Newton,  and 
the  wife  of  one  of  the  prisoners,  with  her  child,  followed 
her  husband,  deeply  sympathizing  in  his  misfortunes. 
Moved  by  this  scene  of  distress,  Jasper  and  Newton 
were  deeply  affected ;  tears  trickled  from  their  eyes, 
and  their  emotions  were  of  more  than  ordinary  feeling. 
That  distressed  mother  and  her  child,  how  could  they 
look  on  them  unmoved?  The  poor  wife  gazing  with 
tear-streaming  eyes  upon  the  sad  countenance  of  her 
hope-forsaken  husband,  appealing  with  her  looks  for 
pity  and  assistance ! 

From  this  distressing  sight,  the  two  friends  stepped 


24  MARION   AND    HIS    TIMES. 

aside  and  conferred  together.  That  the  prisoners, 
under  the  circumstances  in  which  they  had  been  taken, 
would  be  tried,  convicted  and  executed,  was  a  matter  of 
certainty,  unless  they  were  rescued  from  the  hands  of 
the  guard  before  they  reached  Savannah.  Talking 
over  the  matter,  Jasper  and  Newton  determined  to 
risk  their  lives  in  an  attempt  to  rescue  the  priso 
ners. 

Presently,  the  prisoners,  under  a  guard  of  eight  men,  a 
serjeant  and  corporal,  left  the  fort  and  proceeded  on  their 
route  to  Savannah.  Soon  after  their  departure,  Jasper 
and  Newton  took  leave  of  their  Tory  friend,  and  set  out 
from  the  fort,  taking  a  direction  different  from  that 
upon  which  the  guard  had  started  with  the  prisoners. 
When  they  considered  themselves  beyond  sight,  the 
two  friends  struck  into  the  forest  and  travelled  hard 
after  the  guard,  in  sight  of  whom  they  came,  and  re 
maining  unseen  themselves,  dogged  them  mile  after 
mile,  eager  for  a  chance  to  strike  a  blow  for  the  un 
happy  captives.  But,  sanguine  as  they  had  been,  the 
difficulty  of  accomplishing  their  object  began  to  be 
apparent  to  them,  for  what  could  two  unarmed  men  do 
against  a  guard  of  ten,  each  armed  with  a  musket  ? 
Notwithstanding  this  hopeless  aspect  of  matters,  the 
two  friends  followed  on. 

Within  two  miles  of  Savannah  there  is  a  spring, 
famous  for  its  good  water,  and  at  which  travellers 
almost  invariably  stopped  to  drink  and  refresh.  It  oc 
curred  to  Jasper  that  most  likely  the  guard  would  halt 
at  this  spring ;  and  the  hearts  of  the  two  friends  were 
instantly  animated  with  a  revived  hope  that  an  oppor 
tunity  to  rescue  the  captives  might  yet  present  itself. 
Immediately  they  hastened  on  by  a  short  cut  through 


RESCUE    OF   THE    PRISONERS.  25 

the  woods  and  reached  the  spring  before  the  guard 
came  in  sight.  Hiding  themselves  amidst  the  foliage 
and  shade  of  shrubbery  growing  close  to  the  spring, 
they  lay  waiting  for  the  appearance  of  the  guard 
which  shortly  came  along,  and,  as  Jasper  had  expect 
ed,  the  serjeant  commanded  a  halt.  The  corporal, 
with  four  men,  conducted  the  prisoners  to  the  spring  ; 
the  serjeant,  with  the  other  four,  after  grounding  their 
arms  near  the  road,  following. 

The  long  walk  had  fatigued  the  hand-cuffed  prison 
ers,  and  they  were  granted  permission  to  rest  them 
selves  on  the  earth.  They  availed  themselves  of  this, 
and  the  woman,  with  her  child,  sat  next  to  her 
husband.  Two  men  were  ordered  to  keep  guard ; 
the  others  were  to  supply  the  captives  with  water 
from  the  spring.  These  last,  stood  their  muskets 
against  a  tree,  and  having  drank  themselves,  refilled 
their  canteens  to  supply  the  prisoners.  Now  was  the 
time  for  Jasper  and  his  friend,  and  bursting  out  from 
their  concealment,  they  seized  upon  the  two  muskets, 
and  at  once  shot  down  the  two  men  that  were  keeping 
guard.  Clubbing  their  guns,  the  daring  friends  rushed 
forward  upon  the  astonished  foe,  and  a  conflict  for  the 
loaded  guns  of  the  fallen  soldiers  ensued.  The  brains 
of  the  sergeant  and  corporal  were  beaten  in,  and  Jas 
per  and  Newton  secured  the  muskets.  Such  was  the 
panic  of  the  guard,  growing  out  of  the  audacity  and  bold 
decision  of  the  two  Americans,  that,  without  any 
farther  resistance,  they  surrendered. 

The  handcuffs  of  the  captives  were  now  broken  off, 

and  a  musket  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  each.     With 

the  captured  British,  and  the  released  Americans,  the 

brave  Jasper  and  his  friend   now  hurried  away  from 

3 


JJ0  MARION    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

the  spring,  and   reached    the  army  at  Purysburg  in 

safety. 

The  war  was  carried  on  with  various  success,  until 
September,  1779,  when  a  French  fleet,  under  Count 
D'Estaign  made  its  appearance  on  the  coast.  A  junc 
tion  between  the  French  and  American  forces  was 
effected  before  the  walls  of  Savannah,  which  resulted 
disastrously  to  the  Americans  in  consequence  of  the 
ill-advised  measures  adopted  by  the  French  admiral. 
It  is  generally  believed  that  if  the  action  had  at  once 
commenced,  the  besiegers  would  have  conquered,  or 
that  the  alarmed  garrison  would  have  struck  their 
colors  without  firing  a  single  bullet;  and  we  are  war 
ranted  in  this  supposition  by  the  words  of  several  of 
the  English  officers  who  subsequently  became  pri 
soners.  Marion,  and  the  officers  of  the  Americans, 
advised  a  sudden  attack,  but  the  French  commander 
thought  proper  to  send  a  flag,  "  very  politely"  as  the 
indignant  VVeems  sarcastically  expresses  it,  "  inviting 
the  town  to  do  him  the  extreme  honor  of  receiving 
their  surrender"  In  reply,  the  British  commander 
asked  twenty-four  hours  to  consider  upon  the  matter. 
The  courtly  D'Estaing  committed  the  fatal  error  of 
granting  this  request,  and  there  was  but  one  opinion 
throughout  the  American  ranks  in  regard  to  this  indul 
gence  upon  the  part  of  the  Frenchman,  fully  con 
vinced  as  they  were  that  the  situation  of  the  besieged 
was  in  no  condition  to  resist  the  attack,  but  that  the 
time  granted  them  for  deliberation  would  be  energeti 
cally  employed  in  fortifying  themselves.  And  such 
was  the  case.  The  British  commander  promptly  sent 
for  reinforcements  to  Sunbury  and  Beaufort,  from  both 
of  which  places  he  was  supplied,  and  his  fortress  so 


SIEGE    OF    SAVANNAH.  27 

well  manned  that  he  boldly  defied  the  combined  French 
and  Americans. 

The  course  pursued  by  Count  D'Estaing  highly  ex 
asperated  Marion.  "My  God  !"  he  exclaimed,*  "who 
ever  heard  of  any  thing  like  this  before  ?  First  allow 
an  enemy  to  entrench,  then  fight  him  !  See  the  de 
struction  brought  upon  the  British  at  Bunker's  Hill! 
And  yet  our  troops  there  were  only  militia  !  raw  half- 
armed  clodhoppers,  and  not  a  mortar,  or  carronade  ; 
not  even  a  swivel,  but  only  their  ducking-guns !  What 
then  are  we  to  expect  from  regulars,  completely  armed 
with  a  choice  train  of  artillery,  and  covered  by  a 
breast-work?  For  my  own  part,  when  I  look  upon 
my  brave  fellows  around  me,  it  wrings  my  heart  to 
think  how  near  most  of  them  are  to  their  bloody 
graves  !" 

The  suspicions  of  Marion  and  his  brother  officers  as 
to  a  ruse  de guerre  intended  by  the  British  commander 
were  fully  verified,  for  at  the  expiration  of  the  twenty- 
four  hours,  he  announced  his  determination  to  defend 
the  place.  The  siege  was  now  commenced,  and  con 
tinued  for  several  days  with  little  or  no  effect.  It  was 
not  until  the  9th  of  October  that  it  was  resolved  to 
storm  the  British  entrenchments,  when  "  the  whole 
army  then  marched  towards  the  skirt  of  the  wood  in 
one  long  column,  and  as  they  approached  the  opeh 
place,  was  to  break  off  into  different  columns,  as  or 
dered  for  the  attack.  But,  by  the  time  the  first  French 
column  had  arrived  at  the  open  space,  the  day  had 
fairly  broke;  when  Count  D'Estaign,  without  waiting 
until  the  other  columns  had  arrived  at  their  position, 
placed  himself  at  the  head  of  his  first  column,  and 

*  Weems. 


28  MARION   AND  HIS  TIMES. 

rushed  forward  to  the  attack.  The  column  was  so 
severely  galled  by  the  grape-shot  from  the  batteries,  as 
they  advanced,  and  by  both  grape-shot  and  musketry, 
when  they  reached  the  abbatis,  that,  in  spite  of  the 
efforts  of  the  officers,  it  got  into  confusion,  and  broke 
away  to  their  left,  toward  the  wood  in  that  direction  , 
the  second  and  third  French  columns  shared,  suc 
cessively,  the  same  fate,  having  the  additional  discour 
agement  of  seeing,  as  they  marched  to  the  attack,  the 
repulse  and  loss  of  their  comrades  who  had  preceded 
them.  Count  Pulaski,  who,  with  the  cavalry,  preceded 
the  right  column  of  the  Americans,  proceeded  gallantly 
until  stopped  by  the  abbatis ;  and  before  he  could 
force  through  it  received  his  mortal  wound. "* 

•Great  valor  was  displayed  in  this  attack,  but  so 
strongly  posted  were  the  British,  and  so  deadly  was 
their  fire,  the  French  and  Americans  were  finally 
obliged  to  retreat,  with  great  loss,  upwards  of  six  hun 
dred  Frenchmen,  and  four  hundred  and  fifty  Ameri 
cans,  being  left  dead  upon  the  field  and  in  the  ditches. 

Serjeant  Jasper,  who  so  gallantly  replaced  the  flag 
on  the  ramparts  of  Fort  Moultrie,  received  a  mortal 
wound  in  this  engagement.  A  set  of  elegant  colors, 
(presented  to  the  army  after  the  defence  of  Fort  Moul- 
Irie  by  Mrs.  Bernard  Elliot)  during  the  heat  of  the  con 
test,  were  planted  on  the  enemy's  entrenchments,  and 
near  where  they  floated  in  the  air,  the  rage  of  the  bat 
tle  was  hottest.  Jasper  was  in  thickest  of  the  fight, 
and  conducted  himself  throughout  the  action  with 
signal  bravery.  At  the  moment  the  retreat  was  sound 
ed,  he  thought  of  the  colors,  and  sprang  upon  the  ene 
my's  works  to  sieze  them  and  bear  them  off.  He  sue- 

*  Garden' s  Anecdotes  of  the  Revolution. 


ARRIVAL   OF   THE    BRITISH.  d 

ceeded,  but  received  a  mortal  wound  in  the  act.  His 
death  was  deeply  lamented,  as  was  that  of  Count  Pu 
laski,  Lieut.  Bush,  Lieut.  Grey,  Alexander  Hume,Esq 
and  others. 

After  the  action  a  flag  was  sent  to  the  garrison,  the 
Americans  and  French  asking  permission  to  bury  their 
dead,  which  sad  office  to  the  remains  of  the  brave  men 
who  had  perished,  was  done  by  digging  pits  in  the 
earth  of  a  size  to  contain  a  great  number  of  corpses, 
which,  stripped  of  their  clothes,  were  promiscuously 
consigned  to  their  rest.  So  soon  as  the  burying  of  the 
dead  was  concluded,  Count  D'Estaign,  with  his  artil- 
Wy  and  troops,  hurried  aboard  the  French  fleet,  and 
sailed  from  the  coast.  The  Americans  returned  to 
South  Carolina. 

The  city  of  Charleston  was  now  threatened  by  the 
enemy.  General  Lincoln,  commander  of  the  Ameri 
cans,  proceeded  to  the  city,  leaving  Marion  in  com 
mand  at  Sheldon.  In  February,  1780,  Marion  was 
ordered  to  Bacon's  bridge  on  Ashley  river,  where 
troops  were  daily  accumulating  to  defend  the  city.  The 
drilling  and  disciplining  of  the  militia  devolved  upon 
him,  and  the  citizens  generally  exhibited  a  prompt 
alacrity  in  acquiring  a  knowledge  and  practice  of  the 
duties  of  military  life.  That  the  British  would  make 
the  attack  upon  Charleston,  scarcely  a  citizen  doubted, 
so  many  matters  conjoined  to  incite  them  on  to  the 
undertaking.  Their  late  victory  at  Savannah,  and  un 
controlled  sway  of  Georgia,  together  with  the  nume 
rous  tories  in  North  Carolina  and  Florida  ready  to  as 
sist  them,  gave  them  so  much  encouragement,  that 
early  in  the  year,  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  with  ten  thou 
sand  troops  and  a  heavy  train  of  artillery,  arrived 
from  New  York,  and  invested  the  city.  There  were 


32  MARION    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

of  the  Americans,  in  all,  four  thousand  to  defend  the 
fortifications,  two  thousand  regular  troops,  and  two 
thousand  militia  ;  and  the  small-pox  having  made  its 
appearance  in  the  city,  the  country  militia  were  de 
terred  from  coming  in,  dreading  the  disease  much 
more  than  they  did  the  formidability  of  the  British. 
With  this  small  number  opposed  to  the  ten  thousand 
of  the  enemy  (the  latter  fully  armed,  the  former  but 
scantily  supplied  with  arms  and  ammunition)  the  be 
sieged  held  out  for  six  weeks,  yielding  rather  by  fam 
ine  than  the  arms  of  the  besiegers. 

It  is  most  probably  owing  to  the  following  accident 
that  Marion  was  not  among  the  captured  when  the 
city  was  taken.  During  the  siege,  he  was  one  day 
dining  at  the  house  of  a  friend,  who,  having  drank  too 
much  himself,  pressed  his  mistaken  hospitality  upon 
Marion  and  other  of  his  guests,  with  the  avowed  ob 
ject  of  making  all  of  his  company  as  inebriated  as 
himself.  Marion  did  not  fqel  in  a  humor  to  submit  to 
this  species  of  social  slavery,  though  at  the  same  time 
anxious  to  avoid  giving  offence;  and,  in  this  strait,  he 
bethought  him  of  the  window — the  door  of  the  apart 
ment  having  actually  been  locked  by  the  host,  and  the 
key  secured  in  his  pocket,  so  determined  was  he  to 
gorge  his  companions  with  liquor.  Marion,  having 
military  duties  to  perform,  and  unwilling  to  insist  upon 
being  permitted  to  take  his  departure  by  the  door, 
thought  of  the  window,  and  at  once,  notwithstanding 
the  dining-room  was  on  the  second  story,  rose  from  the 
table,  threw  up  a  window  and  leaped  out.  Each  au 
thor  who  has  written  of  Marion  relates  this  anecdote, 
and  in  Weems  we  have  the  name  of  the  host  (Alex 
ander  M'Queen)  and  the  street  (Tradd)  mentioned. 
By  this  leap,  Marion  broke  his  ankle,  which  entirely 


ARTICLES    OF  CAPITULATION.  33 

incapacitated  him  for  service,  and  General  Lincoln 
ordered  him  to  retire  into  the  country  until  his  lame 
ness  should  be  healed,  and  he  should  be  able  to  return 
to  active  duty.  So  severe  was  the  hurt  he  had  received, 
he  was  taken  from  the  city  in  a  litter,  and  retired  to 
his  seat  in  the  parish  of  St.  Johns,  Berkeley  county. 

This  accident  to  Marion  is  regarded  as  a  fortunate 
occurence  for  his  country;  Charleston  and  its  defen 
ders  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  British,  and  the  prob 
ability  that  he  would  have  been  among  those  that 
were  captured,  had  he  been  in  the  city  at  the  time  of 
its  surrender. 

It  was  on  the  12th  of  May,  1780,  that  Gen.  Lin 
coln,  who  had  confidently  expected  hope  from  the 
country  militia,  finding  his  hopes  vain,  surrendered  ; 
the  terms  of  capitulation  being  that  "  the  militia  were 
to  be  permitted  to  return  to  their  respective  homes,  as 
prisoners  on  parole,  and  while  they  adhered  to  their 
parole,  were  not  to  be  molested  in  their  persons  or 
property."  Sir  Henry  Clinton  now  turned  his  atten 
tion  to  the  business  of  re-establishing  the  authority  of 
George  III.  in  the  province.  As  a  first  step  to  this 
object  he  issued  a  proclamation,  dated  June  1,  1780, 
the  purport  of  which  was  an  offer  to  the  inhabitants, 
on  condition  of  theirsubmission,  pardon  for  past  offences, 
a  reinstatement  in  their  rights,  and  exemption  from  taxes 
excepting  those  passed  by  their  own  legislature.  This 
proclamation  was  followed  by  the  disposition  of  gar 
risons  in  different  parts  of  the  country,  to  overawe  the 
patriots  and  shelter  the  tories.  At  the  same  time  over 
2000  soldiers  were  marched  towards  North  Carolina. 

The  inhabitants  were  encouraged  to  stay  on  their 
plantations,  with  the  prospect  of  neutrality  ;  but  in  a 
very  short  time  these  delusive  hopes  vanished.  Tn- 


34  MARION    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

stead  of  drawing  off  the  people  gradually  from  an 
attachment  to  their  late  constitution,  the  conquerors 
were  so  far  mistaken  as  to  suppose  that  men  could  be 
instantly  transformed  from  obstinate  rebels  to  zealous 
royalists. 

The  British  confined  some  of  their  first  prisoners  in 
the  vaults  with  the  dead.  When  the  number  of  priso 
ners  multiplied,  they  were  crowded  on  board  prison- 
ships,  where  they  suffered  every  inconvenience  that 
could  result  from  putrid  air,  and  want  of  the  com- 
forts  of  life.  This  was  done  not  only  to  those  who 
surrendered  at  discretion,  but  also  to  the  private 
soldiers  who  were  entitled  to  the  benefit  of  the  capitu 
lation  of  Charleston.  The  condition  of  these  unfor 
tunate  men  was  truly  deplorable.  They  were  crowded 
on  board  these  prison-ships  in  such  numbers  that  seve 
ral  were  obliged  to  stand  up  for  want  of  room  to  lie 
down.  The  state  of  South  Carolina  r»ould  afford  them 
no  supply ;  Congress  could  not  at  that  time  command 
hard  money  for  their  relief.  Wine  and  such  like 
comforts,  particularly  necessary  for  the  sick  in  south 
ern  climates,  were  denied  them  from  the  British 
hospitals. 

In  the  meantime  a  Continental  expedition,  under 
command  of  Col.  Beaufort,  was  advancing  from  Vir 
ginia  to  the  relief  of  Charleston.  Beaufort  had  reach 
ed  Camden  ere  he  was  aware  of  the  surrender  of  the 
city,  the  tidings  of  which  induced  him  to  retreat.  Corn- 
wallis,  who  commanded  the  British  force  on  its  way  to 
North  Carolina,  sent  forward  the  notorious  Col.  Tarle- 
ton,  with  700  men,  infantry  and  cavalry.  The  Ameri 
cans,  under  Beaufort,  were  but  400  in  number  Tarle- 
ton  overtook  the  Americans  at  the  Waxhaw  settle 
ments,  summoned  them  to  surrender,  and  before  Beau  fort 


MARION    AND    HORRY.  35 

had  time  to  reply,  the  British,  brave  because  a  weak 
opponent  was  before  them,  made  an  impetuous  attack, 
and  mercilessly  massacred  every  man  that  surren 
dered.  "  Tarleton's  quarters"  became  a  byword  here- 
after,  and  in  subsequent  battles,  the  recollection  of 
this  massacre  embittered  the  hostility  with  which  the 
patriots  of  the  south  regarded  their  enemy.* 

The  butchery  of  these  men,  and  the  cruelties  of  the 
British  after  the  fall  of  Charleston,  exasperated  the 
patriots  so  deeply  that,  far  from  accommodating  them 
selves  to  the  measures  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  whose 
object  was,  as  has  been  stated,  the  re-establishment 
of  British  authority  in  the  province,  they  collected  to 
gether  in  squads  throughout  the  country,  and,  putting 
themselves  under  the  command  of  such  of  their  officers 
as  escaped  becoming  prisoners  of  war,  bade  defiance 
to  British  arms.  Moultrie  and  others  were  prisoners, 
but  Sumpter,  Horry  and  Marion  were  at  large,  and 
were  each  as  ready  to  take  command  as  were  the  in 
dignant  patriots  to  enlist  themselves.  Marion,  whose 
skill  and  intrepidity  had  made  him  particularly  objec 
tionable  to  the  lories,  was  now  eagerly  sought  for  by 
the  British,  and  no  measures  were  left  untried  to  cap 
ture  him.  He  suffered  much  from  the  hurt  he  received 
by  leaping  from  Mr.  M' Queen's  dining-room,  and  in 
this  state  he  was  necessitated  to  take  refuge  amid  the 
swamps  and  forests,  surrounded  as  he  was  by  malignant 
enemies  who  were  eager  to  give  him  up  to  the  enemy. 
But,  after  passing  through  innumerable  hardships  and 
perils,  often  within  an  inch  as  it  were  of  being  captured, 
he  finally  escaped  into  North  Carolina  with  a  few  de 
voted  friends,  and  there  fell  in  with  his  gallant  friend 

*  Vide  Lee's  Memoirs  of  the  Southern  War. 
Q 


36  MARION    AND    HIS   TIMES. 

Horry.  Without  money  and  without  resources,  the 
two  friends  made  their  way  to  the  American  army, 
raised  by  Congress  for  the  purpose  of  recovering  South 
Carolina.  This  army,  which  had  set  forward  under 
command  of  De  Kalb,  was  now  placed  under  Gates, 
whose  victory  at  Saratoga,*  had  given  him  a  brilliant 
reputation.  He  was  ordered  by  Congress  to  take  the 
chief  direction  of  the  southern  campaign.  It  is  gene 
rally  conceded  that  Horatio  Gates  was  a  man  of  but 
moderate  abilities  ;  that  he  was  vain,  and  fond  of 
parade  and  external  show.  Col.  Horry  (vide  Weems) 
says  of  him :  "As  a  gentleman,  few  camps  or 
courts  ever  produced  his  superior.  But,  though  a  per 
fect  Chesterfield  at  court,  in  camp  he  was  certainly 
but  a  Paris.  'Tis  true,  at  Saratoga  he  got  his  temples 
stuck  round  with  laurels  as  thick  as  a  May-day  queen 
with  gaudy  flowers.  And,  though  the  greater  part  of 
this  was  certainly  the  gallant  workmanship  of  Arnold 
and  Morgan,  yet  did  it  so  hoist  General  Gates  in  the 
opinion  of  the  nation,  that  many  of  his  dear  friends, 
with  a  prudent  regard,  no  doubt,  to  their  own  dearer 
selves,  had  the  courage  to  bring  him  forward  on  the 
military  turf  and  run  him  for  the  generalissimoship 
against  the  great  Washington." 

When  Gates  joined  the  army,  he  was  advised  to 
proceed  southward  by  a  circuitous  route,  where  pro 
visions  would  be  plenty;  but,  turning  a  deaf  ear  to 
counsel,  he  determined  to  rush  on  with  all  speed  to 
encounter  the  British.  From  the  pen  of  Col.  Otho 
Williams,  an  Adjutant  General  in  Gates'  army,  we 
have  the  following  description  of  him  and  his  men. 
"  Col.  Marion,  a  gentleman  of  South  Carolina,  had 

*  October,  1777. 


MARION    BURNING    BOATS.  37 

been  with  the  army  a  few  days,  attended  by  a  very 
few  followers,  distinguished  by  small  leather  caps,  and 
the  wretchedness  of  their  attire :  their  number  did  not 
exceed  twenty  men  and  boys,  some  white,  some  black, 
and  all  mounted,  but  most  of  them  miserably  equip- 
ped  ;  their  appearance  was  in  fact  so  burlesque,  that 
it  was  with  much  difficulty  the  diversion  of  the  regu 
lar  soldiery  was  restrained  by  the  officers ;  and  the 
General  himself  was  glad  of  an  opportunity  of  de 
taching  Col.  Marion,  at  his  own  instance,  towards  the 
interior  of  South  Carolina,  with  orders  to  watch  the 
motions  of  the  enemy,  and  furnish  intelligence." 

Marion  and  his  men  accordingly  received  orders  to 
penetrate  South  Carolina  in  advance  of  the  army,  with 
instructions  to  destroy  scows,  burn  boats,  and  do  every 
thing  that  could  tend  to  prevent  the  escape  of  the 
enemy,  so  confident  was  Gates  of  a  victory  over  the 
British.  Marion  and  his  friend  Horry  set  forward 
through  a  country  thickly  infested  by  tories,  and  vigor 
ously  prosecuted  their  business  of  boat-burning.  The 
main  army  took  up  its  line  of  march  through  a  dreary 
tract  of  country,  and  hunger  and  fatigue  were  the  con 
sequences.  General  Gates,  whether  he  perceived  his 
error  or  not,  pushed  straight  forward  for  Camden,  and 
"  his  only  resource  for  meat  was  the  lean  beasts  which 
were  accidentally  picked  up  in  the  woods.  Meal  and 
grain  were  also  very  scarce  ;  and  as  substitutes  for 
bread,  the  soldiers  were  obliged  to  have  recourse  to 
the  green  corn  and  fruits  which  they  met  with.  The 
consequence  of  unwonted  diet  was,  that  the  army  was 
thinned  by  dysentery  and  other  diseases  usually  caused 
by  the  heat  of  the  weather,  and  by  unwholesome 
food."  * 

«  Frost's  Hist.  United  States. 
4 


38  MARION    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

Gates,  on  reaching  the  frontiers  of  South  Carolina, 
issued  a  proclamation,  "  inviting  the  inhabitants  to 
join  his  standard,  and  offering  an  amnesty  to  such  of 
them  as,  under  the  pressure  of  circumstances,  had  pro 
mised  allegiance  to  the  British  government."  This 
proclamation  was .  riot  without  effect,  but  it  did  not 
bring  forth  the  numbers  he  calculated  it  would,  and  he 
could  muster  in  all  not  5000  men.  Yet  he  determined 
to  persevere,  and  marched  about  10  o'clock  at  night 
on  the  15th  of  August  (leaving  his  position  near  Ruge- 
ley's  mills,  twelve  miles  from  Carnden)  to  surprise  the 
enemy.  The  same  movement  was  made  by  Cornwal- 
lis,  who  at  2  o'clock  that  night  set  forward  to  surprise 
the-Americans  in  their  camp.  Mutual  was  the  aston 
ishment  of  both  armies  at  this  encounter.  Some  firing 
took  place,  rather  to  the  advantage  of  the  British,  but 
was  soon  discontinued,  both  parties  willing  to  leave  the 
matter  to  be  decided  by  daylight.  De  Kalb  now  ad 
vised  that  the  army  should  fall  back  to  its  position  at 
Rugeley's  mills,  and  await  an  attack  from  the  enemy. 
His  counsel  was  over-ruled,  however,  and  early  on 
the  next  morning  both  sides  prepared  for  action,  which 
commenced  "  by  the  advance  of  200  of  the  British  in 
front  of  the  American  artillery,  who  received  them 
with  a  steady  fire.  Gates  then  ordered  the  Virginia 
militia  to  advance  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Ste 
ven's,  who  cheerfully  obeyed  the  orders  of  his  com- 
mander-in-chief,  and  when  he  had  led  his  men  within 
firing  distance,  urged  them  to  charge  the  enemy  with 
their  bayonets.  This  portion  of  the  army,  however,  did 
not  emulate  the  gallantry  of  their  leader.  Lord  Corn- 
wallis,  observing  their  movement, ordered  Colonel  Web 
ster  to  attack  them.  This  order  was  obeyed  with  a 
loud  cheer,"  and  the  Americans  yielded  before  the  se- 


DEFEAT    OF    THE    AMERICANS  39 

verity  of  the  British  fire,  many  of  them  panic-struck 
and  flying  without  even  discharging  their  muskets. 
Gates  hurried  from  the  field  to  rally  the  militia,  whilst 
the  brave  De  Kalb  and  his  Continentals  alone  kept 
their  ground,  and  stood -the  fury  of  the  charge.  The 
gallant  De  Kalb,  at  the  commencement  of  the  battle, 
had  leaped  from  his  horse,  drawn  his  sword,  and  led 
his  command  on  foot.  Never  did  men  battle  with  more 
bravery  than  he  and  his  handfull  of  Continentals,  sus 
taining  the  shock  of  an  overpowering  host,  amidst  the 
death-dealing  cannon  and  muskets  that  slaughtered 
their  ranks.  Cheering  and  animating  his  men,  De 
Kalb  received  eleven  wounds,  and  at  last,  faint  from 
the  loss  of  blood,  fell  to  the  ground. 

"  The  whole  of  the  baggage  and  artillery  of  the 
Americans  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  and  the 
fugitives  were  pursued  by  the  British  cavalry  for  the 
space  of  twenty  miles.  So  complete  was  this  defeat 
that,  on  the  second  day  after  the  engagement,  General 
Gates  could  only  muster  150  of  his  soldiers  at  Charles 
ton,  a  town  in  the  south  of  North  Carolina,  whence  he 
retreated  farther  north  to  Salisbury,  and  afterwards  to 
Hillsborough. 

"  To  add  to  the  misfortunes  of  the  Americans,  the 
defeat  of  Gates  was  immediately  followed  by  the  sur 
prise  and  dispersion  of  Sumpter's  partisan  corps.  This 
brave  officer  had  succeeded  in  capturing  the  convoy 
with  the  British  stores,  but  hearing  of  Gates's  defeat, 
he  began  to  retreat  with  his  prisoners  and  stores.* 
Tarleton,  with  his  legion  and  a  detachment  of  infantry, 
pursued  with  such  celerity  as  to  overtake  and  surprise 
him  at  Fishing  creek.  All  the  artillery  and  stores  fell 

*  Forty  wagons  of  booty  and  three  hundred  prisoners. 


40  MARION    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

into  the  hands  of  the  British,  and  the  whole  detach 
ment  was  either  killed,  captured  or  dispersed.  Their 
prisoners  were  of  course  all  retaken."  * 

Marion  and  his  men  were  busy  executing  orders  in 
destroying  boats  when  the  disastrous  tidings  of  the 
army's  defeat  reached  them. 

*  Frost's  United  States. 


CHAPTER  III. 

British  atrocities.  Proclamation  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton. 
Major  James  sent  to  Captain  Ardesoijf ;  interview  be 
tween  them ;  insulting  language  of  Ardesoijf  and  its 
consequences.  Rising  of  the  patriots  at  Williams- 
burg.  Tarleton  retreats  from  Capt.  M'Cottry.  Mr. 
Bradley"1  s  house  burned  and  himself  taken  prisoner — 
his  inhuman  treatment.  Marion  leaping  the  barrier 
— Sumpter's  chivalry — Genera]  Pickens. — Col.  Dame 
routs  the  British — British  again  repulsed — battle  of 
King's  mountain — a  large  force  of  the  British  surren 
der  to  five  Americans — desperate  conflict  between  the 
Whigs  and  Tories — death  of  Capt.  Falls.-Marion — de 
scription  of  his  personal  appearance.  Marion  defeats 
a  party  of  Tories  under  Capt.  Gainey.  Marion  at 
Post's  Ferry — rescue  of  prisoners  at  the  Blue  House. 
Defeat  of  Wemyss.  Gallant  victory  of  Marion  and 
his  brigade  over  the  Tories  at  Black  Mingo. 

"  THE  sickliness  of  the  season  prevented  Lord  Corn- 
vvallis  from  attempting  to  pursue  the  remains  of  General 
Gates'  army  ;  but  he  employed  the  leisure  now  afforded 
him  in  inflicting  vengeance  on  such  of  the  inhabitants 
of  South  Carolina  as  had  been  induced  to  join  the  Ame 
rican  standard.  The  military  men  he  doomed  to 
the  gallows.  The  property  of  the  fugitives,  and  of 
the  declared  friends  of  Independence,  he  confiscated  ; 
and  he  seized  a  number  of  the  most  respectable  citi 
zens  of  Charleston,  and  most  of  the  military  officers 
residing  there  under  faith  of  the  late  capitulation,  and 
sent  them  to  St.  Augustine."* 


*  Frost. 
4* 


42  MARION    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

Of  those  confined  in  the  prison-ships,  upwards  of 
eight  hundred,  nearly  one-third  of  the  whole,  exhaust 
ed  hy  a  variety  of  sufferings,  expired  after  a  short 
captivity.  The  citizens  of  the  town,  who  adhered  to 
their  paroles,  were  treated  with  great  severity.  Though 
they  were  not  allowed  rations,  yet  they  were  debarred 
from  trade,  and  from  exercising  any  profession ;  and 
the  king's  subjects  were  strictly  enjoined  not  to  employ 
them  on  any  pretence. 

Reduced  to  desperation  by  these  injudicious  severi 
ties,  and  British  treachery  rendering  them  indignant, 
(for  in  less  than  a  month  after  his  first  proclamation 
Sir  Henry  Clinton  issued  a  second  which  rendered 
nugatory  the  privilege  granted  by  the  other)  the  bold 
and  active  patriots  formed  themselves  anew  into  parti 
san  bands  under  different  chieftains,  among  whom 
Marion  and  Sumpter  were  most  distinguished  by  their 
spirit  and  enterprize.  The  first  proclamation  suffered 
the  people  to  remain  undisturbed  upon  parole,  and 
such  of  the  Carolinians  as  had  accepted  it,  were  now, 
by  this  second  proclamation,  not  suffered  to  remain  in 
this  condition  of  allegiance,  but  actually  commanded  to 
rake  up  arms  in  support  of  His  Majesty's  government. 
At  this  the  majority  revolted.  They  had  resigned 
themselves  to  the  prospect  of  being  lookers-on,  but  to 
shed  the  blood  of  brothers  with  whom  they  had  hitherto 
fought  side  by  side — that  they  could  not  be  brought  to. 
The  following  is  an  anecdote  illustrative  of  this  crisis. 

In  the  month  of  June  1780,  a  British  captain,  named 
Ardesoiff,  arrived  at  Georgetown  and  published  a  pro 
clamation,  inviting  the  people  to  come  in,  swear  alle 
giance  to  king  George,  and  take  protection.  Many  of 

*  Ramsay's  History  of  South  Carolina. 


MAJOR     JAMES    AND    CAPT.    ABDESOIFF.  43 

the  inhabitants  of  Georgetown  submitted.  But  there 
remained  a  portion  of  that  district,  stretching  from  the 
Santee  to  the  Pedee,  containing  the  whole  of  the  present 
Williamsburg  and  part  of  Marion  district,  into  which 
the  British  arms  had  not  penetrated.  The  inhabitants 
of  it  were  generally  of  Irish  extraction,  and  very  little 
disposed  to  submission.  At  this  crisis  there  was  a 
meeting  of  this  people  to  deliberate  on  their  situation. 
Major  John  James,  who  had  heretofore  commanded 
them  in  the  field,  and  represented  them  in  the  state 
legislature,  was  selected  as  the  person  who  should  go 
down  to  Captain  ArdesoifF  and  know  from  him  upon 
what  terms  they  would  be  allowed  to  submit.  Accord 
ingly  he  proceeded  to  Georgetown  in  the  plain  garb 
of  a  country  planter,  and  was  introduced  to  the  cap 
tain  at  his  lodgings. 

After  Major  James  had  explained  the  nature  of  his 
mission,  Capt.  ArdesoifF,  surprised  that  such  an  em 
bassy  should  be  sent  to  him,  answered  "  that  submis 
sion  must  be  unconditional."  To  an  inquiry  from 
Major  James  as  to  whether  the  inhabitants  would  be ' 
allowed  to  stay  at  home  upon  their  plantations  in  peace 
and  quiet,  ArdesoifF  replied,  "  Though  you  have  re 
belled  against  his  majesty,  he  offers  you  a  free  par 
don,  of  which  you  are  undeserving,  for  you  ought  all 
to  be  hanged  !  As  he  offers  you  a  free  pardon,  you 
must  take  up  arms  in  his  cause." 

"  The  people  I  represent  will  never  submit  to  such 
terms,"  said  Major  James,  boldly. 

"  Represent  /"  ArdesoifF  emphatically  repeated — 
"  Represent !  You  rebel !  if  you  speak  in  such  lan 
guage,  I  will  immediately  cause  you  to  be  hanged  up 
to  the  yard-arm  !"  And  the  irritated  captain  pointed 


44  MARION   AND    HIS    TIMES. 

through  the  window,  at  which  he  was  sitting,  to  the 
ship  which  he  commanded  lying  in  the  river  and  within 
sight. 

Major  James,  not  relishing  this  language,  and  his 
blood  being  up,  sprung  in  an  instant  to  his  feet,  arid 
seizing  the  chair  he  had  been  sitting  on,  dealt  a  blow 
at  Ardesoiff  that  sprawled  the  insolent  tool  of  tyranny 
upon  the  floor.  "  Take  that,  d — n  you  !"  exclaimed 
the  justly  indignant  major,  as  he  struck  the  blow.  In 
another  instant,  before  Ardesoiff  had  time  to  recover 
and  give  the  alarm,  he  was  out  of  the  house,  had 
mounted  his  horse,  and  was  far  enough  away  from 
Georgetown  before  pursuit  could  be  attempted. 

As  soon  as  the  major  reached  Williamsburg,  the 
whole  adventure  was  related,  and  the  spirit  displayed 
by  him  acted  like  an  electric-shock  in  arousing 
others ;  and  it  was  unanimously  determined  by  the 
citizens  that  they  would  again  take  up  arms  in  defence 
of  their  country  and  not  against  her.  Major  James 
was  desired  to  command  them  as  heretofore,  and  they 
"arranged  themselves  under  their  revolutionary  cap- 
tains,  William  M'Cottry,  Henry  Mouzon,  and  John 
James,  Junior.  The  latter  was  a  cousin  of  the  major. 

The  small  band  thus  resolved  on  further  resistance 
to  British  tyranny  consisted  of  but  about  two  hundred 
men.  It  was  agreed  to  despatch  a  messenger  to  Gen. 
Gates,  who  about  this  time  had  arrived  upon  the  con 
fines  of  the  state,  requesting  him  to  send  them  a  com 
mander. 

Shortly  after  this,  Col.  Tarleton,  with  a  force  of 
British,  crossed  the  Santee  at  Lenad's  ferry,  and 
hearing  of  the  late  proceedings  in  Williamsburg,  ap 
proached  at  the  head  of  his  cavalry  to  surprise  the 


TREACHERY  OF  TARLETON.          45 

party  of  major  James  ;  but  Capt.  M'Cottry,  as  soon  as 
he  received  notice  of  his  movements,  marched  his 
company  of  fifty  men  to  give  him  battle.  Tarleton 
was  posted  at  King's  Tree  bridge,  on  Black  river  ;  and 
M'Cottry  approached  him  at  midnight ;  but  by  means 
of  the  wife  of  one  of  the  loyalists  of  that  part  of  the 
country,  Tarleton  gained  intelligence  of  M'Ccttry's 
movements,  and  marched  away  a  few  hours  before  the 
latter  arrived.  M'Cottry  pursued  him,  but  without  effect. 

In  this  route  Tarleton  burned  the  house  of  Capt. 
Mouzon,  and  took  Mr.  James  Bradley  prisoner.  He 
took  this  gentleman  by  stratagem.  He  came  to  his  house 
and  passed  himself  off  for  Col.  Washington  of  the 
American  army.  Bradley  made  much  of  his  guest,  and 
without  suspicion  freely  communicated  to  him  the 
plans  and  views  of  himself  and  the  Carolinians  for  co 
operating  with  their  countrymen  against  the  British. 
When  the  interview  and  its  hospitalities  were  ended, 
Tarleton  requested  Bradley  to  accompany  him  as  a 
guide  to  a  neighboring  place.  This  service  was  cheer 
fully  performed.  On  their  arriyal,  Tarleton's  party 
appeared  in  full  view,  and  took  charge  of  Bradley  as  a 
prisoner.  The  host  thus  taken  by  order  of  his  late 
guest  was  sent  to  Camden  jail,  and  there  confined  in 
irons.* 

Marion,  when  in  service,  rode  one  of  the  fleetest  and 
most  powerful  chargers  the  south  could  produce.  When 
in  fair  pursuit,  nothing  could  escape,  and  when  retreat 
ing,  nothing  could  overtake  him.  Being  once  nearly 
surrounded  by  a  party  of  British  dragoons,  he  was  com 
pelled,  for  safety,  to  pass  into  a  corn-field,  by  leaping 
the  fence.  This  field,  marked  with  a  considerable  de- 

*  See  Appendix  A. 


46  MARION   AlfD  HIS  TIMES. 

scent  of  surface,  had  been,  in  part,  a  marsh.  Marion 
entered  it,  at  the  upper  side.  The  dragoons,  in  chase, 
leapt  the  fence  also,  and  were  but  a  short  distance  be 
hind  him.  So  completely  was  he  now  within  their 
power,  that  his  only  mode  of  escape  was  to  pass  over 
the  fence  at  the  lower  side. 

But  here  lay  a  difficulty,  which,  to  all  but  himself, 
appeared  insurmountable.  To  drain  the  groun^l  of  its 
superfluous  waters,  a  trench  had  been  cut  around  this 
part  of  the  field,  four  feet  wide,  and  of  the  same  depth. 
Of  the  mud  and  clay,  removed  in  cutting  it,  a  bank 
had  been  formed  on  its  inner  side,  and  on  top  of  this 
was  erected  the  fence.  The  elevation  of  the  whole 
amounted  to  more  than  seven  feet  perpendicular  height ; 
a  ditch,  four  feet  in  width,  running  parallel  with  it,  on 
the  outside,  and  a  foot,  or  more,  of  space  intervening 
between  the  fence  and  the  ditch. 

The  dragoons,  acquainted  with  the  nature  and  extent 
of  this  obstacle,  and  considering  it  impossible  for  their 
enemy  to  pass  it,  pressed  towards  him,  with  loud  shouts 
of  exultation  and  insult,  and  summoned  him  to  surren 
der,  or  perish  by  the  sword.  Regardless  of  their 
rudeness,  and  empty  clamor,  and  inflexibly  deter 
mined  not  to  become  their  prisoner,  Marion  spurred 
his  horse  to  the  charge.  The  noble  animal,  as  if  con 
scious  that  his  master's  life  was  in  danger,  and  that 
on  his  exertion  depended  its  safety,  approached  the 
barrier,  in  his  finest  style,  and  with  a  bound  that  was 
almost  supernatural,  cleared  completely  the  fence  and 
ditch,  and  recovered  himself  without  injury,  on  the 
opposite  side. 

Marion,  now  facing  his  pursuers,  who  had  halted  at 
the  fence,  unable  to  pass  it,  discharged  his  pistols  at 
them,  without  effect,  and  then,  wheeling  his  horse,  and 


ENTHUSIASM    OF    8UMPTEE.  49 

bidding  them  "  good  morning,"  with  an  air  of  triumph, 
dashed  into  an  adjoining  thicket,  and  disappeared  in  an 
instant. 

Astonished  at  what  they  had  witnessed,  and  scarcely 
believing  their  foe  to  be  mortal,  the  dragoons  immedi 
ately  abandoned  the  pursuit.* 

In  another  district  of  the  same  state,  more  elevated, 
drier,  and  therefore,  more  healthy,  but  less  suited  to 
partisan  and  predatory  operations,  because  less  abun 
dant  in  fortresses  and  retreats,  flourished  General 
Sumpter,  a  second  warrior  of  freedom,  terrible  in  ac 
tion,  and  peculiarly  fitted  for  the  place  he  occupied. 
Greatly  superior  to  General  Marion  in  personal 
strength,  and  trusting  less  to  stratagem  and  skill,  he 
placed  his  fortune  much  more  exclusively  on  his 
daring  resolution  and  the  execution  of  his  sword. 
Warm  in  temperament,  and  devoted  to  his  country, 
whatever  could  contribute  to  rescue  her  from  the  in 
vader,  and  establish  her  independence  became  an  ob 
ject  of  his  ardent  affection.  He  was  also  enamored 
of  brilliant  achievement  for  its  own  sake.  To  victory, 
and  the  glory  attending  it,  he  would  cut  his  way  through 
every  danger,  regardless  alike  of  his  own  blood  and 
that  of  his  enemy.  Into  his  brave  associates,  the 
hardy  and  powerful  sons  of  the  hilly  country,  he 
infused  an  abundant  portion  of  his  own  spirit. 
Attached  to  his  person,  and  inflamed  by  his  enthu 
siasm,  this  dauntless  corps  followed  him  with  alac 
rity  through  every  difficulty  and  every  peril.  To 
them,  as  to  himself,  the  sight  of  an  enemy  be 
came  an  object  of  pleasure.  Accustomed  to  con 
quer,  even  when  greatly  outnumbered,  they  regarded 

*  Caldwell's  Life  of  Green. 
5 


50  MARION    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

the  order  to  prepare  for  battle  as  little  else  than  an 
invitation  to  triumph.  This  was  peculiarly  the  case 
when  none  but  royalists  were  the  object  of  their  attack. 

Thus  formidable  in  himself  and  his  followers,  the 
tories  of  his  district  began  to  tremble  at  the  approach, 
and  even  the  name  of  Sumpter;  and  the  British,  them 
selves,  were  compelled  to  respect  him.  His  only  object 
being  the  conquest  or  destruction  of  his  enemy,  and 
the  liberation  of  his  country,  he  was  not  very  scrupu 
lous  in  his  mode  of  warfare.  Retaliation,  in  every 
form,  he  deemed  justifiable.  Hence,  he  sternly  re 
torted  on  his  adversaries  whatever  means  they  em 
ployed  against  him.  If  they  inhumanly  resorted  to 
conflagration  or  the  gibbet,  he  was  not  very  reluctant 
to  avenge  the  outrage  by  similar  measures.  The  en 
tire  annihilation  of  an  invading  foe,  whose  end  was 
subjugation,  and  every  form  of  violence  their  means, 
as  well  as  of  the  miscreant  inhabitants  who  flocked  to 
their  banner,  he  held  to  be  a  duty. 

Possessing  this  general  fitness  for  the  crisis,  his  ca 
reer  was  fertile  in  enterprise  and  deeds  of  heroism. 
If,  from  a  want  of  due  precaution,  or  from  an  exuber 
ance  of  courage,  misfortune  and  defeat  sometimes  as 
sailed  him,  they  neither  broke  his  spirit  nor  enfeebled 
his  hopes.  Unmoved  as  the  firmest  Roman  in  the 
best  times  of  the  commonwealth,  he  never  despaired 
of  the  arms  of  his  country.  With  an  inflexible  resolu 
tion  to  witness  her  triumph,  or  not  to  survive  her 
overthrow,  he  pressed  towards  his  object  with  direct 
aim  and  unrelaxing  vigor,  and  would  have  reduced  his 
district  to  the  condition  of  a  desert  rather  than  suffer 
the  enemy  to  be  master  of  it. 

In  brigadier  General  Pickens  appeared  a  third  cham 
pion  of  freedom,  worthy  of  the  glorious  cause  he  had 


BRIGADIER  GENERAL  PICKENS.  51 

espoused.  Without  so  much  experience  in  war,  and 
with  a  character  less  strongly  marked  than  his  two 
cotemporaries,  because  he  was  younger,  he  rendered, 
notwithstanding,  to  his  suffering  fellow-citizens  very 
important  services.  Gallant,  enterprising  and  sensible; 
of  a  popular  deportment,  devotedly  attached  to  the  in 
dependence  of  his  country,  and  possessing  no  incon 
siderable  share  of  natural  eloquence,  he  drew  around 
him,  like  Sumpter,  from  another  district  of  the  hilly 
region,  a  band  of  followers,  hardy,  active  and  enamored 
of  danger. 

At  the  head  of  these,  capable  himself  of  great  exer 
tion,  and  uncommonly  patient  of  privation  and  toil,  he 
was  indefatigable  in  his  movements,  traversing  an  ex 
tensive  circuit  of  country,  intercepting  scouts,  striking 
at  foraging  parties,  and  attacking,  and  sometimes  car 
rying,  posts,  until  he  rendered  himself  exceedingly 
formidable  to  his  enemies.  In  the  worst  times,  he 
was  at  once  a  rallying  point  and  a  source  of  reliance 
to  the  friends  of  freedom  in  a  large  district ;  he  illustrated 
his  career  with  numerous  achievements  of  usefulness 
and  renown,  and  proved  himself  an  able  partisan  officer. 
But,  successful  as  he  was,  in  many  of  his  enterprises, 
his  most  substantial  services  consisted,  not  so  much  in 
the  work  of  his  sword,  as  in  keeping  alive  a  spirit  of 
resistance,  and  saving  the  people  from  despondency 
and  submission.  For  it  is,  in  the  political,  as  in  the 
animal  body — while  a  spark  of  life  remains,  resuscita 
tion  is  possible ;  but,  in  either,  real  death  is  absolute 
despair. 

In  another  district  of  country,  still  further  from  the 

sea-board,  composed  of  sections  of  North  and  South 

Carolina,  where  those  two  states  join,  arose  a  fourth 

partisan  officer,  of  high  character  and  merit,  who,  at 

R 


52  MARION    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

the  gloomiest  period  of  the  southern  disasters,  did  much 
to  prevent  and  punish  the  atrocities  of  the  royalists,  cir 
cumscribe  the  range  and  influence  of  British  detach 
ments,  and  sustain  the  wavering  spirits  of  his  friends. 
This  was  Colonel  Davie,  afterwards  Governor  of  North 
Carolina,  one  of  our  embassadors  to  France  at  a  very 
portentous  conjuncture,  and  afterwards  a  private  gentle 
man,  reposing  in  the  lap  of  science,  resident  on  his 
estate  in  the  same  tract  of  country  which  he  had 
protected.  This  distinguished  leader,  although  younger 
by  several  years,  possessed  talents  of  a  higher  order, 
and  was  much  more  accomplished  in  education  and 
manners,  than  either  of  his  three  competitors  for  fame. 
For  the  comeliness  of  his  person,  his  martial  air,  his 
excellence  in  horsemanship,  and  his  consummate  powers 
of  field  eloquence,  he  had  scarcely  an  equal  in  the 
armies  of  his  country.  So  sonorous  and  powerful  was 
his  voice,  so  distinct  his  articulation,  and  so  command 
ing  his  delivery,  that  the  distance  to  which  he  could  be 
heard  was  almost  incredible.  But  his  chief  excellence 
lay  in  the  magnanimity  and  generosity  of  his  soul,  his 
daring  courage,  his  vigilance  and  address,  and  his  un- 
relaxing  activity  and  endurance  of  toil.  So  ardent  was 
his  attachment  to  the  cause  of  freedom,  and  so  disin 
terested  his  efforts  to  promote  it,  that,  in  equipping  for 
the  field  his  corps  of  followers,  he  expended  his  whole 
patrimonial  estate. 

At  the  head  of  these,  his  exertions  were  unremitting, 
and  his  efficiency  great.  If  he  was  less  frequently 
engaged  in  actual  combat  than  either  of  his  three 
more  southernly  compeers,  it  was  not  because  he  was 
inferior  to  them  in  enterprise  or  love  of  battle.  His 
district  being  more  interior,  was  at  first  less  frequently 
invaded  by  British  detachments ;  and  the  terror  of  his 


PATRIOTISM    OF    COL.    DAVIE.  53 

arms,  either  kept  the  royalists  from  embodying,  or 
compelled  them  to  scatter  and  fly  at  his  approach. 
When,  however,  Lord  Cornwall  is  ultimately  advanced 
into  that  quarter,  his  scouts  and  foraging  parties  found 
Col.  Davie  and  his  brave  associates  as  formidable  an 
enemy  as  they  had  ever  encountered.  At  the  two 
gloomiest  epochs  of  the  southern  war,  soon  after  the 
fall  of  Charleston,  and  the  overthrow  of  Gates,  it  was 
the  good  fortune  of  Col.  Davie  to  be  the  first  to  shed  a 
gleam  through  the  surrounding  darkness,  and  give 
hope  to  the  country,  by  the  brilliancy  of  his  exploits. 
In  one  instance,  without  loss  or  injury  on  his  part,  he 
entirely  destroyed  an  escort  of  provisions,  taking  forty 
prisoners,  with  their  horses  and  arms.  In  the  other, 
under  the  immediate  eye  of  a  large  British  force,  which 
was  actually  beating  to  arms  to  attack  him,  he  routed 
a  party  stronger  than  his  own,  killing  and  wounding 
sixty  of  the  enemy,  and  carrying  off  with  him  ninety- 
six  horses  and  one  hundred  and  twenty  stand  of  arms. 
The  only  injury  which  he  himself  sustained,  in  his  com 
mand,  was  one  man  wounded.  This  affair  occurred  at 
Wahab's  farm,  in  the  Waxhaw  settlement.* 

When  Lord  Cornwallis  entered  Charlotte,  a  small 
village  in  North  Carolina,  Colonel  Davie,  at  the  head 
of  his  detachment,  threw  himself  in  his  front,  deter 
mined  to  give  him  a  specimen  of  the  firmness  and  gal 
lantry  with  which  the  inhabitants  of  the  place  were 
prepared  to  dispute  with  his  lordship  their  native  soil. 

Colonel  Tarleton's  legion  formed  the  British  van,  led 
by  Major  Hanger,  the  commander  himself  being  con 
fined  by  sickness.  When  that  celebrated  corps  had 
advanced  near  to  the  centre  of  the  village,  where  the 

*  Caldwell's  Life  of  Greene. 

5* 


54  MARION    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

Americans  were  posted,  Davie  poured  into  it  so  destruc 
tive  a  fire,  that  it  immediately  wheeled  and  retreated 
m  disorder.  Being  rallied  on  the  commons,  and  again 
led  on  to  the  charge,  it  received,  on  the  same  spot, 
another  fire,  with  a  similar  effect.  Lord  Cornwallis, 
witnessing  the  confusion  thus  produced  among  his 
choicest  troops,  rode  up  in  person,  and  in  a  tone  of  dis 
satisfaction,  upbraided  the  legion  with  unsoldierly  con 
duct,  reminding  it  of  its  former  exploits  and  reputation. 

Pressed  on  his  flanks  by  the  British  infantry,  Col. 
Davie  had  now  fallen  back  to  a  new  and  well  selected 
position.  To  dislodge  him  from  this,  the  legion  cavalry 
advanced  on  him  a  third  time,  in  rapid  charge ;  in  full 
view  of  their  commander-in-chief,  and  still  smarting 
from  his  pungent  censure — but  in  vain.  Another  fire 
from  the  American  marksmen  killed  several  of  their 
officers,  wounded  Major  Hanger,  and  repulsed  them 
again  with  increased  confusion.  The  main  body  of 
the  British  being  now  within  musket-shot,  the  American 
leader  abandoned  the  contest. 

That  they  might,  if  possible,  recover  some  portion 
of  the  laurels  of  which  they  had  this  day  been  shorn, 
colonel  Tarleton's  dragoons  attempted  to  disturb  co 
lonel  Davie  in  his  retreat.  But  the  latter,  choosing  his 
ground,  wheeled  on  them  with  so  fierce  and  galling  a 
fire,  that  they  again  fell  back,  and  troubled  him  no 
further. 

It  was  by  strokes  like  these  that  he  seriously  crip 
pled  and  intimidated  his  enemy,  acquired  an  elevated 
standing  in  the  estimation  of  his  friends,  and  served 
very  essentially  the  interests  of  freedom.  With  the 
resolution  of  Sumpter,  and  the  coolness  and  military 
policy  of  Marion,  he  exhibited  in  his  character  a  happy 
union  of  the  high  qualities  of  those  two  officers. 


BATTLE  OF  KING'S  MOUNTAIN.         55 

Thus,  did  these  four  great  partisan  leaders,  created 
by  the  exigency  of  the  times,  and  springing  each  out 
of  the  nature  of  his  own  instinct,  tend,  by  their  vigilance, 
and  unremitting  action,  to  limit  not  a  little  the  ravages 
of  the  enemy,  and  to  preserve  from  extinction  the  em 
bers  of  resistance.  But,  although  the  most  regular 
laborers  in  the  sacred  cause  in  which  they  co-operated, 
they  and  their  immediate  followers  did  network  alone. 
By  the  occasional  association  and  exertion  of  other  par 
tisan  warriors  in  different  places,  sundry  enterprises 
of  rare  and  distinguished  lustre  were  successfully 
achieved. 

Every  reader  of  history  must  be  familiar  with  the 
celebrated  and  romantic  feat  of  arms  achieved  on 
King's  mountain,  where  the  British  bayonet,  under 
colonel  Ferguson,  yielded  to  the  American  rifle,  pointed 
by  Cleveland,  Shelby  and  Campbell.  In  number,  the 
troops,  on  either  side,  were  nearly  equal.  The  British 
detachment  was  in  high  discipline,  selected  for  a  par 
ticular  service,  and  encamped  in  a  position  chosen  on 
account  of  its  security  and  strength.  The  Americans 
were  fresh  from  their  homes,  had  no  pretension  to  dis 
cipline,  and  most  of  them  now  for  tRe  first  time  faced 
an  enemy  in  the  field.  Notwithstanding  this,  they  ad 
vanced  to  the  attack,  with  the  steadiness  and  cool  de 
termination  of  veterans.  The  resistance  they  en 
countered  was  firm  and  terrible  ;  yet  fifty  minutes  con 
ducted  them  to  triumph. 

The  following  brief,  but  picturesque  account  of  this 
battle,  is  given  by  general  Lee.  "  Our  brave  country 
men  were  formed  into  three  divisions,  under  their 
respective  leaders,  and  coolly  ascended  the  mountain 
in  different  directions.  Colonel  Cleveland  first  reached 
the  enemy,  and  opened  a  destructive  fire  from  behind 


56  MARION  AND  HIS  TIMES. 

the  trees.  Ferguson  resorted  to  the  bayonet :  Cleve 
land  necessarily  gave  way.  At  that  instant,  from  an 
other  quarter,  colonel  Shelby  poured  in  his  fire ;  alike 
sheltered  and  alike  effectual.  Upon  him  Ferguson 
furiously  turned,  and  advanced  with  the  bayonet ;  gain 
ing  the  only,  though  immaterial,  advantage  in  his 
power,  of  forcing  Shelby  to  recede.  This  was  scarcely 
effected  before  colonel  Campbell  had  gained  the  sum 
mit  of  the  mountain;  when  he  too  commenced  a  deadly 
fire.  The  British  bayonet  was  again  applied,  and 
produced  its  former  effect.  All  the  divisions  now 
returned  in  co-operation,  and  resistance  became 
temerity." 

The  trophies  of  the  day  were  dazzling  and  glorious. 
The  British  party  was  annihilated.  Colonel  Ferguson 
himself  was  among  the  slain ;  three  hundred  of  his 
troops  were  killed  and  wounded ;  and  upwards  of 
eight  hundred  surrendered  at  discretion.  Fifteen  hun 
dred  stand  of  arms  passed,  also,  into  the  possession  of 
the  conquerors. 

Never  was  victory  more  opportune ;  nor,  for  the 
number  of  combatants,  engaged  in  the  conflict,  more 
important  in  its  immediate  consequences.  It  broke 
the  plan  of  the  British  campaign,  rescued  North  Caro 
lina,  from  an  invasion  which  would  have  devastated,  and 
held  in  check,  its  strongest  and  best  disposed  district, 
disappointed  the  expectations  of  the  royalists  in  various 
parts  of  it,  preventing  their  intended  co-operation  with 
the  invaders,  and  revived  the  sinking  hopes,  and  in 
vigorated  the  exertions,  of  the  friends  of  freedom. 
Further  to  the  South  occurred  another  affair  of  parti 
san  gallantry,  which  although  not  very  momentous  in 
its  consequences,  was  notwithstanding  so  extraor 
dinary,  in  its  nature,  conducted  with  so  much  address, 


EXPLOIT  OF  FIVE  AMERICANS.  57 

marked  with  such  a  chivalrous  spirit  of  enterprise, 
and  so  honourable  to  the  officer  who  conceived  and 
executed  it,  that  it  deserves  to  be  much  more  generally 
known,  than  it  has  heretofore  been.* 

On  the  river  Ogechee,  in  the  state  of  Georgia,  was 
stationed  captain  French,  with  a  detachment  of  about 
forty  British  regulars.  At  the  same  place  lay  five 
British  vessels.  Of  these  four  were  armed,  the  lar 
gest  mounting  fourteen  guns.  Colonel  John  White,  of 
the  Georgia  line,  meditating  the  capture  of  this  station, 
was  able  to  call  to  his  assistance,  but  four  individuals, 
captain  Etholen,  and  three  privates.  Resolute  in  their 
purpose,  notwithstanding  the  disparity  of  force  they 
would  be  obliged  to  encounter,  these  five  soldiers  of  for 
tune,  boldly  advanced  on  the  enemy's  post. 

Having  arrived  in  the  neighborhood  of  it  at  night, 
they  kindled  numerous  fires,  the  light  of  which  reached 
their  adversaries,  so  arranging  them  as  to  represent 
by  them,  the  lines  of  a  considerable  camp.  To  render 
their  stratagem  the  more  imposing,  they  then  rode 
hastily  about,  in  various  directions,  in  imitation  of  the 
staff  of  an  army,  disposing  their  sentinels,  and  issuing 
their  orders  in  a  loud  voice.  The  artifice  succeeded, 
and  convinced  captain  French  that  he  was  menaced  by 
a  large  body  of  Americans.  Accordingly,  on  being 
summoned  by  colonel  White,  he  surrendered  his  de 
tachment,  the  crews  of  the  five  vessels,  amounting  to 
near  fifty  in  number,  with  the  vessels  themselves,  and 
one  hundred  and  fifty  stand  of  arms.  But  the  difficulty 
of  the  enterprising  captors  was  not  yet  terminated. 
The  British  soldiers  and  sailors  might  discover  the  im 
position  that  had  been  practised  on  them  and  attempt 

*  Caldwell's  Life  of  Greene. 


58  MARION    AND    HIS   TIMES. 

a  rescue ;  and  five  armed  men  were  not  sufficient  to 
restrain  by  force  near  a  hundred  without  arms. 

The  same  genius,  however,  that  had  planned  the  first 
part  of  the  adventure,  was  comoetent  to  the  completion 
of  it.  With  great  seriousness  and  some  emotion  in 
his  manner,  colonel  White  told  captain  French  that 
in  consequence  of  certain  recent  enormities,  perpetrated 
by  a  detachment  of  British  and  royalists,  his  troops 
were  so  deeply  exasperated  that  he  was  afraid  they 
would  advance  on  the  captured  party,  and,  in  violation 
of  his  commands,  put  them  all  to  the  sword ;  that  he 
had  already  experienced  great  difficulty  in  restraining 
them ;  and,  should  they  be  placed  as  a  guard  over  the 
prisoners,  he  was  convinced  their  rage  would  become 
ungovernable.  He,  therefore,  directed  the  British  cap 
tain  to  follow,  with  his  whole  party,  captain  Etholen, 
and  two  of  the  soldiers  as  guides,  who  would  conduct 
them  without  delay  to  a  place  of  safety  and  good 
quarters. 

For  his  kindness  and  humanity,  colonel  White  re 
ceived  the  thanks  of  his  prisoners,  who  immediately 
marched  off  in  a  body  with  their  small  escort,  anxious 
to  hasten  their  pace,  lest  the  enraged  Americans  should 
advance  on  them  and  cut  them  to  pieces.  The  colonel 
and  one  soldier  remained  behind,  with  a  view,  as  he  in 
formed  captain  French,  to  restrain  by  his  presence 
any  improper  violence  his  troops  might  be  inclined  to 
offer ;  and  to  conduct  their  march  at  some  distance  in 
the  rear. 

In  the  mean  time,  with  the  aid  of  the  soldier  retained, 
he  took  active  measures  to  collect,  as  expeditiously  as 
possible,  a  body  of  militia  from  the  neighboring  dis 
trict.  Placing  himself  at  the  head  of  these,  who  were 
mostly  mounted  on  good  horses,  he  soon  overtook  his 


WHIGS  AND  TORIES.  59 

prisoners,  whom  he  found  safe  under  their  guides,  and 
rejoicing  in  the  generous  treatment  they  had  experienced. 

Equally,  perhaps,  unknown  to  most  of  the  inhabi 
tants,  and  singularly  neglected  in  the  history  of  our 
country,  is  another  very  gallant  partisan  adventure, 
achieved  on  the  22d  of  June  1780.  Neither  Ameri 
can  regulars  nor  British  soldiers  had  any  concern 
in  this  spirited  affair ;  it  was  fought  entirely  by  raw 
militia-men,  of  the  whig  and  tory  parties.  About 
twelve  hundred  of  the  latter,  having  assembled  un 
der  the  command  of  Colonel  Moore,  encamped  in 
a  strong  position  at  Ramsaour's  mill,  a  few  miles 
westward  from  the  Catawba  river,  and  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  line  which  separates  North  from  South  Carolina. 

In  addition  to  rapine,  and  the  production  of  general 
distress,  a  favorite  object  of  this  party  was  to  overawe 
and  weaken  the  adjacent  country  by  capturing  and 
carrying  within  the  British  lines  a  number  of  its  most 
influential  inhabitants.  Besides  being  thus  prevented 
from  taking  a  lead  in  active  measures  of  resistance, 
these  were  to  be  held  as  hostages  for  the  good  conduct 
and  neutrality  of  their  friends. 

To  defeat  the  mischievous  purposes  of  this  party,  and 
to  dislodge  them  from  their  strong  hold,  the  most  spir 
ited  of  the  whigs  from  Tredell,  a  neighboring  county, 
assembled  to  the  amount  of  three  hundred  men,  under 
the  command  of  colonel  Locke.  These  consisted 
principally  of  foot ;  but,  in  part,  of  a  small  corps  of 
mounted  infantry,  armed  with  rifles,  pistols  and  sabres, 
led  by  captain  Falls,  an  officer  of  peculiar  gallantry 
and  worth. 

This  hasty  levy  of  soldiers  presented  a  spectacle 
eminently  interesting.  They  were  fresh  from  their 
homes,  their  private  habits  unbroken,  no  discipline  or 


60  MARION    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

concert  of  action  established  among  them,  and  all  their 
domestic  feelings  clinging  around  their  hearts.  They 
were,  in  the  true  sense  of  the  expression,  a  band  of 
friends  and  neighbors,  being  all  from  the  same  settle 
ment,  and  perfectly  known  to  each  other  in  private  life. 
In  the  whole  party  there  was  not  an  individual  who 
had  not  repeatedly  united  with  the  others,  in  rural  sport 
and  social  enjoyment.  As  citizens,  they  were  all  of 
the  same  rank,  and  all  respectable.  They  were  mas 
ters  of  the  soil  they  had  assembled  to  defend. 

Of  this  corps  of  patriots,  the  military  prowess  was 
entirely  untried ;  not  one  of  them,  with  the  exception 
of  captain  Falls,  having  ever  confronted  an  enemy  in 
the  field.  Their  only  warlike  acquirement  was  great 
expertness  and  skill  in  the  use  of  the  rifle.  In  that 
qualification  they  had  few  superiors.  Being  all  dressed 
in  their  common  apparel,  they  exhibited  no  uniformity 
of  appearance.  To  remedy  this,  and  to  distinguish 
them  from  the  tories,  who  were  known  to  be  dressed  in 
the  same  way,  they  fastened  over  the  crowns  of  their 
hats,  from  back  to  front,  descending  to  the  rims,  on 
each  side,  strips  of  white  paper  about  two  inches  broad. 
Each  one  brought  to  the  place  of  rendezvous  his  own 
rifle,  fifty  rounds  of  powder  and  ball,  a  week's  provision, 
and  a  light  blanket.  That  they  might  be  perfectly  un 
encumbered,  neither  baggage-wagon  nor  pack-horse 
was  attached  to  the  party.* 

Thus  accoutred,  eager  for  battle,  and  panting  for 
glory,  without  waiting  for  a  considerable  force  that  was 
assembling  in  Rowan,  a  neighboring  county,  under 
general  Rutherford,  to  join  them,  they  moved,  in  haste 
and  silence,  towards  the  scene  of  action.  The  second 

*  Caldwell's  Life  of  Greene. 


VALOR  OP  CA.PT.  FALLS.  61 

day's  march  brought  them  into  the  immediate  vicinity 
of  their  object.  They  encamped  for  the  night,  deter 
mined  to  strike,  and  hoping  to  surprise,  the  enemy,  in 
the  morning.  But,  in  this,  they  were  disappointed. 
On  advancing  to  the  attack,  about  break  of  day,  they 
found  the  foe  on  the  alert,  and  ready  to  receive  them. 
They,  therefore,  resolved  to  wait,  until  it  should  be 
completely  light,  that  the  aim  of  their  rifles  might  be 
the  more  deadly. 

The  morning  opening,  disclosed  to  them  a  prepara 
tion  for  defence  and  resistance,  much  more  formidable 
than  they  had  expected  to  find.  The  enemy  were 
posted  on  top  of  a  hill,  covered  with  timber,  which  af 
forded  them  a  shelter.  Their  flanks  were  protected 
on  one  side  by  a  mill-dam,  and  on  the  other  by  a 
swamp,  a  small  stream  of  water  flowing  in  the  rear. 
In  front  of  their  encampment,  was  erected  of  stakes 
and  brush-wood,  a  breastwork  so  compact  as  to  be 
proof  against  small  arms,  and  to  impede,  in  a  great 
measure,  the  operation  of  cavalry.  A  strong  de 
tachment  of  the  foe  was  stationed  in  advance  of  the 
breast-work,  armed  with  rifles,  and  concealed  behind 
trees. 

At.  first  sight,  this  array  of  men  and  means  was 
somewhat  appalling.  But  the  Rubicon  was  passed. 
Retreat  would  be  ruin,  accompanied  with  disgrace. 
Battle  might  also  be  ruinous,  but  could  not  be  dishon 
orable.  Without  hesitation,  therefore,  the  latter  was  re 
solved  on.  At  his  own  request,  captain  Falls,  with  his 
mounted  infantry,  led  the  attack.  When  at  the  distance 
of  about  eighty  paces,  he  received  the  fire  of  the  ene 
my's  advance.  Returning  this  with  considerable  effect, 
he  rushed,  sword  in  hand,  into  the  midst  of  them,  threw 
them  into  confusion,  and  forced  them  to  fall  back. 

6 


62  MARION    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

Pressing  his  fortune  with  too  much  ardor,  he  received 
a  ball  through  his  breast,  and  fell  dead  from  his  horse. 

His  party,  however,  undismayed  by  the  loss  of  their 
leader,  continued  the  action,  with  great  gallantry,  until 
the  foot  advanced  to  their  support,  when  the  enemy  was 
driven  behind  his  breastwork.  Here  ensued  a  most 
murderous  conflict.  The  whigs,  having  so  far  levelled 
the  obstruction,  as  to  render  it  passable,  rushed  over  it, 
mingled  with  the  enemy,  and,  in  many  instances, 
grappled  with  them,  man  to  man.  Every  instrument 
and  means  of  death  was  now  resorted  to.  The  bullet, 
the  sword,  the  rifle-but,  and  even  the  hatchet,  with 
which  some  were  provided,  were  abundantly  employed. 
Rarely,  in  any  case,  has  blood  been  more  inexorably, 
or,  by  the  same  number  of  combatants,  more  prodigal 
ly,  shed. 

For  a  time,  the  issue  was  doubtful.  Pressed,  by  su 
perior  numbers,  the  whigs  were  once  compelled  to  give 
ground,  some  of  them  retreating  across  the  breastwork. 
But  resolutely  bent  on  victory  or  death,  they  returned 
to  the  charge,  with  such  fierce  impetuosity,  and  decisive 
effect,  as  bore  down  all  resistance.  The  tories  broke, 
and  fled  in  confusion,  the  whigs  for  some  distance 
hanging  on  their  rear  with  terrible  slaughter. 

Thus  terminated  an  affair,  in  which  so  many  gallant 
spirits  made  their  first,  and,  too  many  of  them,  alas  ! 
their  last,  essay  in  arms.  In  the  course  of  it,  the 
whigs  performed  prodigies  ;  and  the  royalists  mani 
fested  a  degree  of  resolution  and  valor  worthy  of  a 
better  cause.  The  latter  lost,  in  killed,  wounded,  and 
prisoners,  upwards  of  six  hundred  men.  The  prison 
ers  and  wounded  were  paroled,  and  liberated,  on  the 
field  of  battle.  The  numerical  loss  of  the  former  was 
exceedingly  heavy,  nearly  half  of  them  being  killed  or 


MARION   AND    HIS    BRIGADE.  63 

wounded.  But  the  actual  loss,  which  consisted  in  the 
character,  rather  than  the  number,  of  those  that  fell, 
was  incalculable.  On  that  fatal  day  some  of  the 
choicest  blood  of  the  south  was  heroically  offered,  on 
the  altar  of  freedom. 

The  death  of  captain  Falls,  in  particular,  was  deeply 
lamented.  In  the  ranks  of  his  country,  he  did  not  leave 
behind  him  a  purer  patriot,  or  a  more  gallant  soldier. 
His  son,  a  youth  of  fourteen,  had  accompanied  him  to 
battle.  When  the  captain  fell,  this  high  minded  stripling 
moved  by  an  instinctive  impulse  of  affection,  sprang 
from  his  horse,  to  embrace  the  body,  and  protect  it 
from  insult.  One  of  the  enemy,  believed  to  be  the 
same  that  had  shot  captain  Falls,  advancing,  with  a 
view  to  plunder  the  corpse,  the  son,  suddenly  snatch 
ing  the  sword  of  the  deceased,  plunged  it  into  the 
bosom  of  the  marauder,  and  thus,  at  once,  punished 
audacity  and  nobly  revenged  his  father's  death. 

So  deadly  was  the  aim  of  the  tory  riflemen,  at  the 
commencement  of  the  action,  before  the  smoke  of  their 
own  fire  had  obstructed  their  view,  that  many  of  them 
placed  their  balls  in  the  lower  end  of  the  strips  of 
paper,  which  the  whigs  wore  over  the  crowns  of  their 
hats.  Every  shot  of  this  description,  passing  through 
the  brain,  was  instantly  fatal.* 

The  messenger  despatched  to  Gates  returned  with 
the  glad  information  that  Francis  Marion  was  to  take 
command,  commissioned  by  Gov.  Ruttledge ;  and  a 
few  days  previous  to  the  defeat  of  Gates,  Marion 
reached  the  post  where  M'Cottry  had  taken  his 
position,  and,  as  we  have  stated,  he  and  his  brigade 
were  on  the  Santee  river  destroying  boats  when 

*  Caldwell's  Life  of  Greene. 


64  MARION   AND    HIS   TIMES. 

the  news  of  the  last  battle  was  received.  Such 
was  the  origin  of  "  Marion's  Brigade."  Of  Ma 
rion's  personal  appearence  at  this  time,  we  have  the 
following  graphic  account  from  the  pen  of  Judge 
James,  a  son  of  the  major,  and  who  at  the  early 
age  of  fifteen  served  under  him.  "  He  was  a  stranger 
to  the  officers  and  men,  and  they  flocked  about  him  to 
obtain  a  sight  of  their  future  commander.  He  was 
rather  below  the  middle  stature,  lean  and  swarthy 
His  body  was  well  set,  but  his  kness  and  ankles  were 
badly  formed,  and  he  still  limped  upon  one  leg.  He 
had  a  countenance  remarkably  steady  ;  his  nose  was 
aquiline,  chin  projecting  ;  his  forehead  large  and  high, 
and  his  eyes  black  and  piercing.  He  was  then  forty- 
eight  years  of  age,  with  a  frame  capable  of  enduring 
fatigue  and  every  privation.  He  was  dressed  in  a 
close  round-bodied  crimson  jacket,  of  a  coarse  texture, 
and  wore  a  leather  cap,  part  of  the  uniform  of  the 
second  regiment,  with  a  silver  crescent  in  front,  in 
scribed  with  the  words, '  Liberty  or  Death.'  "*  Weems 
describes  him  as  a  "  little,  swarthy,  French-phizzed 
Carolianian." 

We  now  approach  the  exciting  part  of  Marion's 
career;  and  as  captain  of  his  brigade  we  will  follow 
him  through  his  perils,  adventures,  stratagem  and  ex 
ploits.  We  equally  admire  the  boldness  of  his  deeds 
and  the  never-failing  resources  that  he  commanded 
within  himself.  At  a  moment  when  the  cause  for 
which  he  battled  seemed  to  be  given  over,  he  alone 
kept  the  field  as  its  champion.  A  few  others  there 
were  who  assisted  in  keeping  alive  the  hopes  of  the 
Southern  patriots,  but  the  name  of  Marion  was  the 
only  rallying  cry  which  inspirited  effectual  confidence. 

*  A  sketch  of  the  Life  of  Marion  and  History  of  his  Brigade, 
by  Wm.  Dobein  James,  A.  M.  1821. 


TORIES    DEFEATED    AT    BRITTON's  NECK.  65 

Equally  without  the  means  of  warfare  and  of  com 
fort,  he  and  his  brigade  despaired  not,  but  with  such 
weapons  as  they  had  fought,  and  with  such  sustenance 
as  they  could  get  existed.  LIBERTY  OR  DEATH  was 
the  motto  worn  by  Marion,  and,  for  Liberty,toil  and 
hardships  were  cheerfully  endured  with  an  unwavering 
resolution  that  it  should  be  Death  rather  than  the 
cause  of  Liberty  should  be  relinquished. 

In  a  few  days  after  taking  command,  Marion  led  his 
men  across  the  Pedee  at  Post's  ferry,  to  disperse  a 
large  party  of  tories  commanded  by  Major  Gainey, 
collected  between  the  Great  and  Little  Pedee.  This 
Gainey  was  a  great  champion  of  the  tories  and  stood 
high  in  their  estimation  as  a  partizan  officer.  He  and 
his  band  of  tories  were  encamped  at  a  place  called 
Britton's  Neck.  In  secrecy,  Marion  formed  his  plan, 
marched  rapidly  all  night,  and  came  upon  the  tories 
at  day-break.  He  paused  not  an  instant,  but  rigorously 
attacked  their  camp,  and  the  surprise  and  disaster 
was  complete ;  one  of  the  tory  captains  and  several 
of  their  privates  were  slain.  Of  Marion's  men  not  one 
was  lost,  and  only  two  wounded.* 

Being  informed  that  another  body  of  tories  were 
strongly  posted  in  the  neighborhood,  under  command 
of  Capt.  Barfield,  he  resorted  to  a  stratagem,  placing  a 
part  of  his  men  in  ambush,  and  with  the  other  part 
pretending  a  retreat.  This  feint  had  the  desired  effect, 
for  Barfield  pursued  the  retreating  party,  whilst  those 
in  ambush  came  upon  his  rear,  and  the  defeat  of  the 
tories  was  entire. 

After  this,  Marion  returned  to  Post's  Ferry,  and 
threw  up  a  redoubt  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Pedee, 

*  Ramsay's  Hiat.  of  South  Carolina. 
6* 


66  MARION    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

manning  his  little  fortification  with  two  field-pieces 
which  he  captured  in  his  successes  against  the  tories. 
Whilst  thus  employed,  he  heard  of  the  defeat  of  Gen. 
Gates  at  Camden,  Aug.  16,  1780.  Fearful  of  the 
effect  this  tidings  might  have  upon  the  spirits  of  his 
brigade,  he  kept  it  concealed  from  them,  and,  getting 
advice  that  a  British  force,  with  a  great  number  of 
American  prisoners,  was  on  its  way  from  Camden  to 
Charleston,  he  resolved  to  attempt  a  rescue.  He  im 
mediately  marched  ibr  Nelson's  Ferry  on  the  Santee, 
and  near  Nelson's  he  learned  that  the  British,  with 
their  prisoners, — the  former  ninety  strong;  the  prison 
ers  two  hundred, — had  stopped  at  a  house  on  the  east 
side  of  the  Santee.  Just  after  dark,  Marion  and  his 
brigade  crossed  the  river.  He  directed  Col.  Horry  to 
gain  possession  of  the  road  at  the  entrance  of  a 
swamp,  and  led  the  main  body  himself  by  a  circuitous 
route  to  attack  the  rear  of  the  enemy. 

"  The  Blue  House"  was  the  name  of  the  tavern  at 
which  the  British  halted  with  their  prisoners.  Col. 
Horry  in  taking  his  position,  advanced  too  near  a  sen 
tinel,  who  fired  upon  him.  No  time  was  now  to  be 
lost.  The  word  was  given  for  an  attack.  The  sen- 
tinels  fled  towards  the  house,  the  Americans  following. 
The  surprised  enemy  surrendered  at  once,  and  Marion 
was  by  this  achievement  well  supplied  with  muskets. 
"  After  securing  their  arms,"  writes  Weems,  "  Marion 
called  for  their  captain ;  but  he  was  not  to  be  found, 
high  nor  low,  among  the  living  or  dead.  However, 
after  a  hot  search,  he  was  found  up  the  chimney  !" 
He  begged  very  hard  that  his  men  should  not  know 
where  he  had  concealed  himself. 

Notwithstanding  this  gallant  success,  the  defeat  of 
Gates  at  Camden,  which  now  became  generally  known, 


RESCUE    OF    PRISONERS.  67 

damped  the  ardor  of  the  people  throughout  the  coun 
try,  and  instead  of  rallying  under  the  flag  of  Marion, 
the  dastardly  Continentals  he  had  released  from  the 
British,  replied  that  it  would  be  risking  life  without  any 
hope  of  success,  and  all,  with  one  or  two  exceptions, 
returned  to  their  homes.  Marion  and  his  unconquer 
able  brigade  kept  the  field,  however,  and  the  severi 
ties  practiced  by  the  British,  after  the  fall  of  Camden, 
drove  many  indignant  men  into  his  ranks.  Corn- 
wallis  issued  a  proclamation,  ordering  positively  that 
''all  the  inhabitants  of  this  province  who  have  sub 
scribed,  and  have  taken  part  in  the  revolt,  should  be 
punished  with  the  greatest  rigor  ;  and  also  those  who 
will  not  turn  out,  that  they  may  be  imprisoned  and 
their  whole  property  taken  from  them  or  destroyed ;" 
and  "that  every  militia  man,  who  has  borne  arms 
with  us,  and  afterwards  joined  the  enemy,  shall  be 
immediately  hanged."  Many  men  were  hanged,  and 
the  property  of  a  number  of  families  confiscated. 

The  audacity  and  skill  of  Marion,  necessarily  ren 
dered  the  British  commander  desirous  of  taking  him, 
and  Tarleton,  and  Major  Wemyss,  and  a  strong  force 
of  tories,  were  despatched  against  him.  The  tories 
were  commanded  by  Major  Harrison.  Marion  had 
under  his  command  but  a  very  small  body  of  men. 
Hearing  of  the  expedition  that  had  been  set  in  motion 
against  him,  he  despatched  Major  James,  with  a  choice 
band  of  volunteers,  to  reconnoitre  the  enemy  and  as 
certain  their  force.  Major  James  concealed  himself  in 
a  swamp  on  the  line  of  the  enemy's  march,  and  having 
satisfied  himself  in  regard  in  their  numbers,  returned 
to  Marion,  reported  the  British  force  to  be  double  that 
of  the  patriots,  while  the  tories  in  the  rear  were  alone 
s 


68  MARION    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

estimated  at  five  hundred  men.  This  intelligence  was  far 
from  encouraging,  inasmuch  as  they  had  no  force  that 
could  possibly  contend  with  such  a  host.  About  half 
of  Marion's  men  left  him,  considering  it  useless  to 
keep  the  field  under  these  circumstances,  dropping  off 
one  by  one  on  the  route  towards  North  Carolina,  he 
and  his  officers  having  commenced  a  retreat.  Those 
that  remained  with  him  were  colonels  Peter  and  Hugh 
Horry,  colonels  John  Erwin  and  John  Baxter,  major 
John  James,  major  Benson,  and  about  sixty  men. 
Marching  night  and  day,  they  soon  reached  the  eastern 
bank  of  Downing  creek  in  North  Carolina. 

.From  this  place  the  gallant  Major  James  obtained 
leave  to  return  at  the  head  of  a  few  volunleor.s,  to  gain 
intelligence,  watch  the  movements  of  the  British,  and 
do  his  best  to  rouse  the  spirit  of  the  country,  now  over 
run  and  desolated  by  the  British  and  Tories.  Farms 
and  plantations  were  laid  waste,  and  Wemyss  swept 
the  land  with  fire  and  sword.  Houses  were  consigned 
to  the  flames,  and  thousands  of  the  inhabitants  were 
plundered  by  the  tories,  who  revelled  and  rioted  in  the 
destruction  they  made.  Cattle  were  wantonly  shot, 
and  grain  ruthlessly  destroyed.  All  who  were  in  the 
slightest  identified  with  the  patriotic  cause  suffered 
from  the  depredations  committed  by  Wemyss.  Many 
of  Marion's  party  were  reduced  from  easy  circum- 
,  stances  to  poverty. 

In  the  meantime,  Marion  had  pitched  his  camp  at 
Whitemarsh,  near  the  '  source  of  the  Waccawaw, 
where  he  and  his  brigade  submitted  to  hardships  and 
necessities  of  more  than  ordinary  rigor. 

Major  James,  and  many  scouting  parties,  returned 
to  the  camp  with  the  tidings  of  Wemyss'  destructive 
progress  over  the  country,  and  the  indignant  feelings 


BATTLE  AT  BLACK  MINGO.  69 

that  had  been  roused  among  the  inhabitants.  Marion 
at  once  took  up  his  line  of  march  back  to  South  Caro 
lina,  and  on  his  way  he  was  everywhere  joined  by  the 
roused  militia.  He  found  his  men  in  the  proper  spirit 
to  do  battle,  and  he  determined  to  strike  while  the  iron 
was  hot.  Arrived  at  Lynch's  creek,  he  was  informed 
that  a  great  body  of  tories,  under  a  Capt.  Ball,  lay  at 
Black  Mingo,  fifteen  miles  below.  Every  voice  was 
enthusiastically  loud  for  the  attack.  "  Lead  us  on  ! 
Lead  us  on  !"  was  the  unanimous  cry.  There  was  a 
spirit  of  justifiable  vengeance  breathing  through  the 
entire  command,  officers  and  men. 

The  tories  were  strongly  posted  at  Shepherd's  ferry, 
on  the  south  side  of  the  Black  Mingo.  This  was  the 
passage  of  the  stream,  and  Marion,  to  approach  them, 
was  obliged  to  cross  a  plank-bridge  a  mile  above.the 
ferry.  As  soon  as  the  front  files  of  his  advance  had 
struck  the  bridge,  an  alarm-gun  was  heard  from  the 
Tory  camp.  Rapidity  was  now  necessary.  Marion 
and  his  officers  urged  forward  their  men.  The  Tories 
were  not  unprepared  to  receive  them,  and  a  severe  con 
flict  ensued.  Some  of  the  patriotic  troops  fell  back 
with  confusion,  but  were  soon  rallied  and  led  on  to  the 
charge.  So  near  were  the  parties  engaged  for  a  part 
of  the  fight,  that  the  wads  of  their  guns  struck  on  each 
side,  and  both  fired  balls  and  buckshot.  In  an  interval 
of  platoons,  Marion  was  heard  to  call  out,  "  Advance 
cavalry  and  charge  on  the  left."  Instantly  the  tories 
broke,  and  ran  for  Black  Mingo  swamp. 

In  this  conflict,  if  either  party  had  had  bayonets  they 
would  have  used  them,  so  close  were  they  to  each 
other  in  the  struggle.  Captain  Logan  and  one  private  of 
Marion's  party  were  killed,  and  nearly  one  half  of  his 
ttien  wounded.  Two  gallant  officers,  Capt.  Mouzon, 


70  MARION    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

and  his  lieutenant,  Joseph  Scott,  were  rendered  unfit 
for  further  service.  The  tories,  who  were  twice  as 
strong  as  the  patriots,  lost  their  commander,  leaving 
two-thirds  of  their  number  killed  or  wounded.  "  The 
surprise  and  destruction  of  the  tories,"  says  Col. 
Horry,  "  would  have  been  complete,  had  it  not  been 
for  the  alarm  given  by  our  horses,  that  in  passing 
Black  Mingo  bridge,  near  which  they  were  encamped. 
Marion  never  afterwards  suffered  us  to  cross  a  bridge 
in  the  night,  until  we  had  first  spread  our  blankets  on 
it,  to  prevent  noise." 

After  this  victory,  Marion,  without  delay,  marched 
to  Williamsburg,  and,  such  was  the  magic  of  his  name, 
numbers  flocked  to  his  standard,  and  the  few  with 
which  he  had  gained  his  success  at  Black  Mingo,  was 
in  a.  short  time  greatly  increased.* 

*  Marion's  Brigade,  by  W.  D.  James. — Ramsay's  Hist. 
South  Carolina.  See  Appendix  B. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Marion  sets  forward  to  chastise  the  Tories  under  Har 
rison — Surprises  the  Tories  under  Col.  Tynes.  Hard 
ships  of  Marion  and  his  men.  Tarleton  in  pursuit  of 
Marion.  Sumpter  defeats  Maj.  Wemyss.  Tarleton 
relinquishes  his  pursuit  of  Marion  and  goes  after 
Sumpter — battle — defeat  of  the  British.  Marion's 
enterprize  against  Georgetown — death  of  Gabriel 
Marion.  Marion's  encampment  at  Snow's  Island — • 
martial  law — the  flag  of  truce — Marion  dines  a 
British  officer,  ect.  etc. 

The  victory  at  Black  Mingo  was  followed  by  a  re 
spite  to  the  soldiers,  who  were  allowed  to  visit  their 
families,  necessitated  as  they  were  to  provide  for  their 
wives  and  children.  Marion  would  have  kept  them 
together  and  followed  up  the  tories,  but  consented  to 
their  request  on  their  promising  to  return  as  soon  as 
called  upon.  True  to  their  word,  after  looking  to  the 
care  of  their  families,  all  returned  to  the  command  of 
their  leader.  Marion  now  set  forward  to  chastise  the 
tories  under  Harrison,  posted  at  Lynch's  creek.  On 
his  march  he  learned  that  a  certain  Col.  Tynes  was 
collecting  a  large  body  of  tories  in  the  fork  of  Black 
river,  distant  about  thirty  miles.  This  Col.  Tynes  was 
a  man  of  valor,  and  generally  very  much  upon  his 
guard,  though  he  was  at  last  caught  napping  by  Ma 
rion.  He  had  brought  arms  and  ammunition  with 
him,  and  had  them  in  abundance  to  supply  those 
who  joined  him.  Marion  felt  it  his  duty  to  check  him 
before  he  should  have  an  opportunity  to  make  much 
headway.  Marching  with  extreme  rapidity,  he  came 
up  with  the  camp  of  the  tories  at  night,  whilst  they 

71 


72  MARION    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

were  feasting,  drinking  and  gaming.  He  quickly  made 
his  arrangements  for  the  attack.  Those  that  slept 
were  awakened  by  the  guns  of  the  assailants,  and  in 
an  instant  the  patriots  were  among  them,  hewing  them 
down,  and  the  surprise  and  discomfiture  of  the  tones 
was  complete.  Captain  Gaskens,  one  of  the  plunder 
ing  companions  of  Wemyss,  was  killed  with  a  card  in 
his  hand.  Many  were  killed.  Col.  Tynes,  and  two 
of  his  officers,  were  captured ;  a  great  number  of 
horses,  and  all  the  baggage  was  taken  ;  the  larger 
number  fled  to  a  neighbouring  swamp,  from  which 
some  emerged  the  next  day,  and  joined  the  ranks  of 
Marion,  whilst  others  fled  to  their  homes.  This  victory 
was  achieved  by  Marion  without  the  loss  of  a  single 
man  upon  his  own  side.* 

Is  it  to  be  wondered  that  these  brilliant  achieve 
ments,  so  rapidly  following  each  other,  should  make 
the  name  of  Marion  dear  to  every  heart  that  partici 
pated  with  love  of  country  ?  In  all  these  forced 
marches,  Marion  and  his  men  lay  in  the  open  field, 
with  little  covering,  and  with  little  other  food  than 
sweet  potatoes,  and  meat  mostly  without  salt.  The 
general  fared  worse  than  his  men ;  for  his  baggage 
having  caught  fire  by  accident,  he  had  literally  but  half 
a  blanket  to  shelter  him  from  the  dews  of  the  night, 
and  but  half  a  hat  to  shelter  him  from  the  rays  of  the 
sun.  Tea  or  coffee  he  seldom  tasted,  and  liquor  as 
rarely  passed  his  lips.  Thus  suffering  deprivations, 
thus  enduring  fatigue,  Marion  and  his  men  continued 
to  hold  out  against  the  combined  forces  of  the  British 
and  Tories ;  and  so  great  was  now  his  influence 
throughout  South  Carolina,  that  the  British  commander 

*  Ramsay's  Hist.  South  Carolina. 


TARLETON   IN    PURSUIT    OF    MARION.  73 

found  it  impossible  to  reduce  the  province  to  loyalty 
whilst  he  kept  the  field.  To  capture  him,  however, 
was  a  matter  that  would  necessarily  entail  much  diffi 
culty  ;  one  day  in  one  part  of  the  country,  the  next 
fifty  miles  distant,  as  he  constantly  was  when  avoiding 
pursuit ;  hardened  to  every  trial,  yet  ever  in  undis 
mayed  spirits.  But  he  must  be  captured,  the  British 
commander  resolved  ;  no  point  must  be  left  unstrained 
until  he  was  taken  !  Who  was  the  officer  to  accom 
plish  it  ?  Who  but  Tarleton  ?  But  he  was  lying  ill 
of  a  fever  at  Charleston.  Sick  as  he  was,  Tarleton 
signified  his  willingness  to  seize  upon  the  first  moment 
of  returning  health,  and  carry  into  effect  the  desire  of 
his  commander. 

Accordingly,  as  soon  as  he  was  able,  he  set  for* 
ward  with  a  troop  of  horse,  to  meet  his  legion  at  a  de 
signated  place  on  the  Wateree.  Marion,  apprized  of 
his  having  set  out  from  Charleston,  and  presuming  that 
he  intended  to  force  his  way  to  Camden,  started  in 
pursuit  of  him.  But,  in  consequence  of  defective  in 
formation  from  his  scouts,  Marion  did  not  succeed  in 
overtaking  his  foe.  Tarleton  met  his  legion,  and 
Marion  was  first  apprized  of  his  whereabouts  by  the 
burning  of  the  mansion  on  the  plantation  of  General 
Richardson,  one  of  the  patriots.  Gen.  Richardson  in 
person  presented  himself  to  Marion,  giving  intelligence 
of  the  enemy's  great  force.  Marion,  thus  finding  his 
enemy  so  strong  that  the  prospect  of  an  engagement 
was  utterly  hopeless  of  success,  and  one  of  his  own 
men  having  deserted  to  the  foe,  retired  from  his  posi 
tion,  crossing  an  extensive  swamp.  Tarleton  pursued, 
day  after  day  ;  but  Marion  constantly  changed  his 
ground,  until  he  wearied  out  his  pursuer,  who  turned 
his  legions  in  search  of  Sumpter,  who  had  now  got  to- 
7 


74  MARION  AND  HIS  TIMES. 

gether  a  force  of  about  five  hundred  men,  and  encamp 
ed  within  twenty-eight  miles  of  Cornwallis,  who  lay 
at  Winnsboro'. 

Thus,  while  Marion  engaged  the  attention  of  Corn 
wallis,  whose  cavalry  and  artillery  were  drawn  to  the 
east  of  the  Santee,  Sumpter  hovered  on  the  west  of 
the  river,  searching  for  some  valuable  point  to  assail. 
This  officer,  equally  enterprizing  and  indefatigable  as 
Marion,  had  the  mountainous  country  of  the  Caro- 
linas  to  draw  upon  for  assistance.  He  had  therefore 
the  advantage  of  Marion  in  numbers  ;  commanding 
five  hundred  sometimes,  and  at  others  eight  hundred 
men.  When  Cornwallis  became  acquainted  of  Sump- 
ter's  approach,  Major  Wemyss  was  detached  to  sur 
prize  him,  which  he  thought  possible  from  the  fact  that 
Sumpter,  on  past  occasions,  had  displayed  more  bold 
ness  than  vigilance.  Wemyss  directed  his  march  with 
great  secrecy  to  Broad  river,  where  Sumpter  was  en 
camped.  The  silent  celerity  with  which  he  advanced, 
brought  him,  sooner  than  he  intended,  to  the  vicinity 
of  his  enemy ;  and,  apprehending  that  Sumpter  might 
be  apprized,  before  morning,  of  his  proximity,  he  de 
termined  on  an  attack  by  night.  His  corps  was  im 
mediately  formed  for  battle,  and  advanced  on  Sump- 
ter's  camp.  Anxious  to  observe  the  condition  of  his 
foe,  Wemyss  placed  himself  with  the  van  officer,  who 
soon  fell  on  Sumpter's  piquet,  and  threw  them  back  on 
the  main  body.  Only  five  muskets  were  discharged* 
and  two  balls  pierced  the  major,  disabling  him  from 
further  exertion. 

The  command  devolved  upon  a  subaltern,  who,  al 
though  unacquainted  with  the  ground,  and  uninformed 
as  to  the  plan,  determined  to  press  the  attack.  He 
found  Sumpter  prepared  to  receive  him ;  and  very  soon 


TARLETON  IN  PURSUIT  OF  SUMPTER.      75 

the  contest  terminated  in  the  repulse  of  the  British,  who 
retired,  leaving  their  commandant  and  twenty  men  on 
the  ground.* 

Sumpter,  satisfied  with  his  success,  did  not  pursue 
it,  but  crossed  the  Broad  river.  Cornwallis,  chagrined 
at  the  defeat  of  Wemyss,  and  provoked  by  the  daring 
of  Sumpter,  directed  Tarleton  to  proceed  without  delay 
and  chastise  the  audacious  rebel.  Quick  were  the 
movements  of  Tarleton,  and  he  arrived  in  the  neigh 
borhood  of  Sumpter  before  the  latter  had  even  heard  of 
his  advance.  Pushing  up  the  Ennoree  river,  Tarleton 
hoped  to  place  himself  in  his  enemy's  rear,  but  Sump 
ter  became  apprized  of  his  adversary's  movements, 
immediately  drew  off,  passed  the  Ennoree,  and  contin 
ued  to  retreat,  having  the  Tyger,  one  of  the  most  rapid 
and  obstructive  rivers,  in  his  front.  Tarleton,  foresee 
ing  that  should  his  adversary  pass  the  Tyger,  there 
would  be  little  prospect  of  bringing  him  to  action,  re 
doubled  his  exertions  to  overtake  him.  Well  knowing 
the  character  of  his  foe,  he  had  preserved  his  force  in 
compact  order;  but  his  apprehension  that  Sumpter 
might  escape,  his  ardor  in  pursuit,  and  desire  to  con 
tinue  the  success  with  which  his  zeal  had  been  generally 
crowned,  impelled  him  to  deviate  from  that  prudent 
course.  In  the  evening  of  the  20th  of  November, 
(1780)  at  the  head  of  his  cavalry,  about  one  hundred 
and  seventy  in  number,  and  eighty  mounted  infantry 
of  the  63rd  regiment,  he  dashed  forward  to  bring  Sump 
ter  to  battle,  before  the  latter  had  passed  the  Tyger, 
and  soon  came  in  sight  of  his  enemy,  who  had  selected 
a  strong  position  on  Blackstock  hill,  on  the  eastern 
banks  of  the  river. 

*  Lee's  Memoirs  of  the  Southern  War. 


76  MARION   AND    HIS    TIMES. 

Here,  prudence  would  have  dictated  to  Col.  Tarleton 
a  pause.  The  residue  of  the  63rd  regiment,  the  legion 
and  light  infantry,  were  following  with  all  possible 
despatch,  and  in  one  hour  might  have  joined  him.  But 
delay  did  not  comport  with  the  ardent  zeal  or  experi 
ence  of  Tarleton,  and  he  boldly  advanced  to  the  assault. 
That  part  of  the  hill  to  which  the  attack  was  directed, 
was  nearly  perpendicular,  with  a  small  rivulet,  brush 
wood,  and  a  rail  fence  in  front.  The  rear  of  the  Amer 
icans,  and  part  of  their  right  flank,  was  secured  by  the 
river  Tyger,  and  their  left  was  covered  by  a  log  barn, 
into  which  a  considerable  division  of  their  force  had 
been  thrown,  and  from  which,  as  the  apertures  between 
the  logs  served  for  loop-holes,  they  fired  with  security. 

British  valor  was  conspicuous  in  this  action ;  but  no 
valor  could  surmount  the  obstacles  that  here  stood  in 
its  way.  Of  the  63rd  regiment,  the  commanding  offi 
cer,  two  others,  and  one  third  of  the  privates,  fell. 
Tarleton,  observing  their  situation,  charged  with  his 
cavalry  ;  but,  unable  to  dislodge  the  enemy,  either 
from  the  log  barn  on  his  right,  or  the  height  on  his  left, 
he  was  obliged  to  fall  back,  leaving  Sumpter  in  quiet 
possession  of  the  field.  Sumpter  occupied  the  ground 
several  hours,  but  having  received  a  severe  wound,  and 
knowing  the  British  would  be  reinforced  before  next 
morning,  he  thought  it  hazardous  to  wait.  He  accord 
ingly  retired,  and  taking  his  wounded  men  along  with 
him,  crossed  the  rapid  river  Tyger.  Sumpter's  wound, 
unfortunately  for  his  country,  long  detained  him  from 
the  field ;  but  useful  consequences  continued  to  result 
from  the  deep  impressions  of  his  example,  and  from  the 
spark  he  had  infused,  and  the  experience  gained  under 
his  guidance. 

Tarleton  was  no  sooner  recalled  from  the  east  of  the 


ATTEMPT    UPON    GEORGETOWN.  77 

Santee,  than  Marion  emerged  from  his  concealed  re 
treat,  traversed  the  country  from  Georgetown  to  Cam- 
den,  and  endangered  the  communication  between  them. 

Thus,  in  this  gloomy  period,  was  resistance  in  the 
South  continued  ;  embarrassing  to  the  enemy,  exhilira- 
ting  to  the  hopes  of  the  patriots.  It  produced  in  Con 
gress,  and  in  the  nation,  a  solacing  conviction  that  the 
spirit  of  the  people  was  not  subdued.* 

The  British  post  at  Georgetown  was  one  of  consid 
erable  strength,  and  Marion,  who  was  bare  of  supplies, 
meditated  an  ingenious  attack  upon  it,  in  order  to  fur 
nish  himself  with  clothing  and  ammunition  ;  and  being 
now  supported  by  Lieut.  Col.  Lee,  he  disclosed  his  enter- 
prize  to  that  officer,  who  readily  consented  to  join  in 
the  undertaking.  General  Greene  had  arrived  and 
taken  command  of  the  Southern  army.  To  him  Ma 
rion  disclosed  his  plan.  Gen.  Greene  approved  of  it. 
The  plan  of  the  assault  was  founded  on  the  facility  with 
which  the  assailant  might  convey  down  the  Pedee  a 
part  of  his  force  undiscovered,  and  land  in  the  water 
suburb  of  the  town,  which  is  situated  on  the  bay  into 
which  the  river  empties.  This  suburb,  being  always 
deemed  secure,  was  consequently  unguarded.  After 
this  body  should  have  reached  the  wharves,  it  was  to 
move  in  two  divisions.  The  first  was  to  force  the  com 
mandant's  quarters,  known  to  be  a  place  of  parade, 
then  to  secure  him  and  all  who  might  flock  thither  on 
the  alarm.  The  second  was  to  be  charged  with  the 
interception  of  such  of  the  garrison  as  might  attempt  to 
gain  the  fort,  their  chief  point  of  safety  in  annoyance. 
The  militia  and  cavalry  of  the  legion,  under  Marion 
and  Lee,  were  to  approach  near  the  town  in  the  night 

"•See  Appendix  C. 


78  MARION    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

and  when  the  entrance  of  the  infantry,  passed  down  by 
water,  should  be  announced,  they  were  to  rush  into  it 
for  co-operation  and  support. 

Agreeably  to  this  plan,  the  infantry  of  the  legion 
were  embarked  in  boats,  under  command  of  Captain 
Games,  with  orders  to  fall  down  the  Pedee  to  a  desig 
nated  island,  during  the  first  night ;  to  land  and  lay 
concealed  there  the  ensuing  day ;  to  re-embark  at  an 
early  hour  of  the  night  following,  and  to  reach  George 
town  between  one  and  two  in  the  morning. 

Marion  and  Lee  proceeded  to  their  destination,  hav 
ing  taken  all  the  requisite  precautions  to  prevent  any 
intimation  to  the  enemy  of  their  approach.  At  twelve 
o'clock  on  the  second  night,  they  occupied,  unperceived, 
a  position  in  the  vicinity  of  the  town,  and  awaited 
anxiously  for  the  annunciation  of  Game's  arrival. 
This  officer  met  with  no  difficulty  in  descending  the 
river,  and  reached  the  appointed  island  before  dawn. 
He  remained  there  the  ensuing  day  without  discovery. 
Gaining  his  place  of  destination,  with  precision  in  point 
of  time,  he  landed  in  the  suburb  unperceived,  and  in 
stantly  advanced  to  the  quarters  of  the  garrison's  com 
mander,  Col.  Campbell,  who  was  secured;  and  Carnes 
judiciously  posted  his  division  for  seizing  such  parties 
of  the  garrison  as  might  flock  to  the  parade  ground. 
The  other  division,  with  equal  good  fortune,  gained  the 
vicinity  of  the  fort,  and  arranged  themselves  ready  to 
arrest  any  fugitives.  On  the  first  fire,  which  took 
place  at  the  commandant's  quarters,  the  militia  of 
Marion,  and  the  dragoons  of  Lee,  rushed  into  the  town, 
prepared  to  bear  down  all  resistance.  To  the  astonish 
ment  of  these  officers,  every  thing  was  quiet ;  the  legion 
infantry  holding  its  assigned  stations,  and  Col.  Camp 
bell  a  prisoner.  Not  a  British  soldier  appeared ;  not 


MARION'S  NEPHEW  BUTCHERED.      79 

one  attempted  either  to  gain  the  fort,  or  repair  to  the 
commandant.  Having  discovered  their  enemy,  the 
troops  of  the  garrison  kept  close  to  their  respective 
quarters,  barricaded  the  doors,  and  determined  there  to 
defend  themselves. 

The  assailants,  unprovided  with  the  requisite  imple 
ments  for  battering  doors  and  scaling  windows,  were 
compelled  to  retire  with  but  a  partial  accomplishment 
of  their  object.  Col.  Campbell  was  suffered  to  remain 
on  parole. 

An  accident,  in  the  highest  degree  distressing  to 
Gen.  Marion,  resulted  from  this  attack  upon  George 
town.  A  nephew  of  his,  Gabriel  Marion,  a  lad  who 
shared  the  fatigue  and  danger  of  his  uncle,  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  tories,  who,  in  spite  of  the  intercession  of 
the  British  soldiers,  called  loudly  for  the  boy's  death. 
The  soldiers  represented  to  them  the  inhumanity  of 
putting  to  death  a  mere  boy,  but  the  sanguinary  tories, 
because  he  bore  the  name  of  Marion,  were  deaf  to  their 
intercessions,  and  hewed  him  to  pieces. 

Unsuccessful  in  his  attempt  upon  Georgetown,  Marion 
took  a  position  on  Snow's  island,  where  he  pitched  his 
camp.  Snow's  island  is  situated  at  the  conflux  of  the 
Pedee  and  Lynch's  creek,  is  of  a  triangular  form,  and 
is  bounded  by  the  Pedee  on  the  east,  by  Lynch's  creek 
on  the  north,  and  by  Clark's  creek,  a  branch  of  the 
latter,  on  the  south  and  west.  Here,  by  having  the 
command  of  the  rivers,  he  could  be  abundantly  supplied 
with  provisions,  and  his  post  was  inaccessible  except  by 
water.  It  was  in  December  (1780)  that  he  went  into 
winter  quarter's  on  this  island,  a  post  particularly  ele- 
gible  for  his  purpose  of  carrying  on  the  war  with  the 
tories.  He  actively  went  to  work,  sending  forth  his 
officers  and  scouts  in  all  directions.  He  laid  the  coun- 


80  MARION    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

try  under  martial  law,  too,  with  commands  to  his  sub 
alterns  to  destroy  boats  and  canoes,  take  horses,  arms, 
ammunition,  and  to  prohibit  all  persons  from  transport 
ing  any  kind  of  provisions  into  Georgetown,  or  to  any 
place  where  the  British  could  get  them. 

A  popular  anecdote,  the  incidents  of  which  occurred 
while  the  camp  was  on  Snow's  island,  may  be  here  in 
serted.  A  flag  of  truce  was  sent  from  the  British  post 
at  Georgetown,  and  brought  by  a  young  British  officer, 
the  object  of  which  was  some  arrangements  in  regard 
to  an  exchange  of  prisoners.  The  young  officer  was 
met  at  some  distance  from  the  camp,  and,  after  being 
blindfolded,  conducted  into  the  encampment.  The 
bandage  taken  from  his  eyes,  he  found  himself  sur 
rounded  by  a  motley  throng  of  tattered  fellows,  bare 
legged,  bareheaded,  some  asleep  on  the  ground,  some 
roasting  potatoes,  and  others  variously  employed. 
What  a  contrast  these  to  the  gaily-dressed  soldiers  of 
the  garrison  at  Georgetown  !  Not  a  little  was  the 
young  officer  surprised,  and  his  surprise  was  doubled, 
when,  asking  to  be  presented  to  General  Marion,  a 
little,  swarthy-featured  man  stood  before  him.  His 
manner  expressed  his  astonishment.  What  this  Ma 
rion  ?  This  diminutive,  unprepossessing,  ill-clad — 
could  this  be  Marion, — the  celebrated,  adventurous, 
skillful,  victorious  Marion  ? 

"  General  Marion,"  says  Lee  in  his  Memoirs  of  the 
Southern  War,  vide  vol.  I.  appendix,  page  396,  "  was 
in  stature  of  the   smallest  size,  thin   ns   well  as    low 
His  visage  was  not  pleasing,  and  his  manners  not  cap 
tivating.     He  was  reserved  and   silent,  entering  into 
conversation  only  when  necessary,  and  then  with  mo 
desty  and  good  sense.     He   possessed  a  strong  mind, 
improved  by  his  own  reflections  and  observations,  not 


MARION    DINING    A    BRITISH    OFFICER.  81 

by  books  or  travel.  His  dress  was  like  his  address — 
plain,  regarding  comfort  and  decency  only.  In  his 
meals  he  was  abstemious,  eating  generally  of  one  dish, 
and  drinking  vyater  mostly.  He  was  sedulous  and 
constant  in  his  attention  to  the  duties  of  his  station,  to 
which  every  other  consideration  yielded.  The  pro 
curement  of  subsistence  for  his  men,  and  the  contri 
vance  of  annoyance  to  his  enemy,  engrossed  his  en 
tire  mind." 

Nor  is  the  surprise  of  the  young  officer  to  be  won 
dered  at,  accustomed  as  he  was  to  the  large  persons, 
and  cavalier  carriage  of  the  commanders  of  the  Bri 
tish  army,  whose  dress  glittered  with  ornaments  of 
gold.  The  prowess  that  the  name  of  Marion  carried 
with  it,  had  led  him  to  expect  in  the  man  a  person  of 
lofty  stature,  and  commanding  appearance. 

The  story  goes,  that  the  young  officer,  as  soon  as 
the  business  upon  which  he  came  was  satisfactorily 
arranged  between  Marion  and  himself,  took  up  his  hat 
to  retire.  Marion  requested  him  to  be  in  no  hurry. 
"  Dinner  is  preparing,  and  you  shall  stay  and  dine 
with  us,  sir." 

At  mention  of  dinner,  the  officer  looked  round  to 
see  where  the  preparations  were.  Marion  observing 
his  looks,  smilingly  ordered  a  black  servant  to  serve 
up  the  meal.  The  servant  at  once  commenced  poking 
with  a  stick  among  the  ashes  and  embers  of  a  smoul 
dering  fire  upon  the  ground,  and  roused  up  several 
roasted  sweet  potatoes,  cleaning  off  the  ashes  by  blow 
ing  them  with  his  breath,  and  rubbing  them  upon  his 
sleeves.  These  potatoes  were  presently  served  up  to 
Marion  and  his  guest  on  pieces  of  bark,  and  placed  on 
the  trunk  of  a  fallen  tree. 


82  MARION    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

Marion  apologized  for  the  humbleness  of  the  fare, 
but  said  it  was  the  best  he  had  to  offer,  and  trusted  his 
guest  would  take  it  in  as  complimentary  a  view  as  if 
he  were  placing  before  him  all  the  luxuries  of  a  din 
ner  and  dessert. 

The  mild  and  dignified  simplicity  of  Marion's  man 
ners  had  already  produced  their  effects,  and,  to  pro 
long  so  interesting  an  interview,  the  invitation  was  ac 
cepted.  They  sat  down  on  the  log,  and  began  to  eat 
and  converse ;  the  young  officer  asking  many  ques 
tions,  which  Marion  frankly  answered.  He  asked 
Marion  if  this  was  not  merely  an  accidental  dinner. 
"  You  do  not  always  fare  thus  '/" 

"  Generally  worse,"  said  Marion. 

"  Worse  ?"  repeated  the  officer. 

"  Indeed,  sir,"  continued  Marion,  "  we  are  fortu 
nate  on  this  occasion,  entertaining  company,  to  have 
more  than  our  usual  allowance.  Poor  as  our  fare  is, 
sir,  poor  as  you  see  it,  it  is  not  always  we  have  enough 
of  even  this  to  satisfy  our  hunger." 

u  But  you  are  paid  well  ?'   said  the  officer. 

"  Not  a  penny,"  answered  Marion. 

"  Neither  paid  nor  fed — what  in  Heaven's  name  do 
you  keep  the  field  for  then  ?" 

"  For  liberty!"  Marion  emphatically  replied.  "It 
is  for  the  blessings  of  freedom,"  he  added,  "  that  I 
fight — bessings  I  may  never  live  to  see  in  the  soil  of 
my  birth,  but  for  which  I  nevertheless  contend,  trust 
ing  as  I  do  that  the  day  is  not  far  distant  when  your 
king  shall  be  forced  to  yield  the  independence  of  my 
country — and  the  proud  thought  now  swells  my  heart, 
that  though  my  bones  may  rest  in  the  earth,  posterity 
will  cherish  with  gratitude  the  remembrance  of  one 


FEELINGS    OF    THE    BRITISH    OFFICER.  83 

who  has  never  a  moment  ceased  in  his  struggle  for  the 
freedom  of  his  native  land !" 

It  is  said  that  the  young  officer  retired  from  this  in 
terview  deeply  impressed  with  a  conviction  of  how 
utterly  hopeless  was  the  object  of  British  arms — re 
ducing  a  country  to  its  former  allegiance — when  offi 
cers  and  men,  without  pay,  and  literally  but  half-clad, 
would  endure  privations  and  toils  of  the  roughest  kind. 
Indeed,  so  deep  was  the  impression  made  upon  his 
feelings  by  this  interview  with  Marion,  that  he  shortly 
afterwards  threw  up  his  commission,  and  retired  from 
the  service. 


CHAPTER  V. 

Gen.  Greene. — Gen.  Morgan — his  birth;  his  early  ca 
reer  ;  his  valor  at  the  assault  on  Quebec ;  his  capture ; 
is  exchanged,  and  is  at  the  battle  of  Saratoga  ;  receives 
ill  treatment  from  Gen.  Gates ;  joins  the  Southern 
Army — Greene's  estimation  of  Marion — description  of 
him  by  Col.  Lee.  Marion  destroys  the  waggons  and 
baggage  of  the  British  at  Keithjield. — Morgan — Col. 
Washington — Rudgely,  the  tory,  and  his  garrison  cap 
tured.  Distressed  situation  of  the  inhabitants  of  Ninety- 
Six.  Tarleton  in  pursuit  of  Morgan.  The  battle  of 
Cnwpens.  Tarleton  is  pursued.  Narrow  escape  of  Col. 
Washington.  Marion  a  terror  to  the  Tories.  Col. 
Watson  despatched  in  pursuit  of  Marion — some  of  Ma 
rion's  men  butchered  by  the  tories.  Watson's  expedi 
tion  to  surprise  Marion — death  of  the  tory,  Harrison — 
Marion  fording  Black  River — the  bridge  jired — retreat 
of  Watson — skirmish  at  Wither  spoon's  ferry,  etc.,  etc. 

General  Greene,  a  soldier  of  great  firmness  and  pru 
dence,  directed  his  whole  attention  to  the  high  duties  of 
his  command.  He  found  the  army  not  more  than  two 
thousand,  and  but  scantily  supplied  with  provisions  and 
ammunition.  But  the  unfavorable  aspect  did  not  dis- 
curage  him.  A  wide  sphere  of  intellectual  resource 
enabled  him  to  inspire  confidence,  to  rekindle  courage, 
to  decide  hesitation,  and  infuse  a  spirit  of  exalted  patrio 
tism  in  the  citizens  of  the  State.  By  his  own  example, 
he  showed  the  value  of  obedience,  of  patience,  vigilance 
and  temperance.  Dispensing  justice  with  an  even 
hand  to  the  citizen  and  soldier  ;  benign  in  heart,  and 
happy  in  manners  ;  he  gained  the  attachment  and  esteem 
of  all.  He  collected  around  his  person  able  and  re- 

84 


SKETCH    OF   GEN.    MORGAN.  85 

spectable  officers ;  and  selected,  for  the  several  depart- 
ments,  those  who  were  best  qualified  to  fill  them.  His 
operations  were  then  commenced  with  a  boldness  of 
design,  well  calculated  to  raise  the  drooping  spirits  of 
his  country,  and  to  excite  the  respect  of  his  enemy. 

Eldest  among  his  officers,  and  at  this  period  fore 
most  in  renown,  was  General  Morgan.  As  much  as 
is  the  case  with  any  mortal,  this  veteran's  reputation 
and  fortune  were  the  work  of  his  sword.  His  mind,  of 
perfect  Roman  texture,  its  firmness  and  valor,  which 
originally  nothing  could  shake,  had  been  still  further 
strengthened  by  much  severe  and  dangerous  service. 
Nor  were  his  corporeal  qualities  less  adapted  to  the  toils 
of  war  and  the  exertions  of  battle.  His  frame  being 
large,  and  his  person  muscular,  early  labor  and  exten 
sive  practice  in  athletic,  more  especially  pugilistic  exer 
cises,  had  rendered  him  exceedingly  strong  and  capable 
of  enduring  great  fatigue;  and  had  further  taught  him 
the  art  of  using  his  strength  when  engaged  in  combat 
with  the  deadliest  effect. 

He  was  born  in  New  Jersey,  where  from  his  poverty 
and  low  condition  he  had  been  a  day-laborer.  To  early 
education  and  breeding  therefore,  he  owed  nothing. 
'But  for  this  deficiency  his  native  sagacity  and  sound 
judgment,  and  his  intercourse  with  the  best  society, 
made  much  amends  in  after  life.  Enterprizing  in  his 
disposition  even  now,  he  removed  to  Virginia  in  1755, 
with  a  hope  and  expectation  of  improving  his  fortune. 
Here  he  continued  at  first  his  original  business  of  day 
labour;  but  exchanged  it  afterwards  for  the  employ 
ment  of  a  wagoner. 

His  military  novitiate  he  served  in  the  campaign 
under  the  unfortunate  Braddock.  The  rank  he  bore  is 
not  precisely  known.  It  must  however  have  been  hum- 
8 


86  MARION   AND  HIS  TIMES. 

ble;  for,  in  consequence  of  imputed  contumely  towards 
a  British  officer,  he  was  brought  to  the  halbert,  and  re 
ceived  the  inhuman  punishment  of  five  hundred  lashes  ; 
or,  according  to  his  own  statement,  of  four  hundred  and 
ninety-nine ;  for  he  always  asserted  that  the  drummer 
charged  with  the  execution  of  the  sentence  miscounted, 
and  jocularly  added  "  that  George  the  third,  was  still 
indebted  to  him  one  lash."  To  the  honor  of  Morgan, 
he  never  practically  remembered  this  savage  treatment 
during  the  revolutionary  war.  Towards  the  British 
officers  whom  the  fortune  of  battle  placed  within  his 
power,  his  conduct  was  humane,  mild  and  gentlemanly. 

After  his  return  from  this  campaign,  so  inordinately 
was  he  addicted  to  quarrels  and  boxing  matches,  that 
the  village  of  Berrystown,  in  the  county  of  Frederick, 
which  constituted  the  chief  theatre  of  his  pugilistic  ex 
ploits,  received  from  this  circumstance  the  name  of 
Battletown.  In  these  combats,  although  frequently 
overmatched  in  personal  strength,  he  manifested  the 
same  unyielding  spirit  which  characterised  him  after 
wards  in  his  military  career.  When  worsted  by  his 
antagonist  he  would  pause  for  a  time  to  recruit  his 
strength,  and  then  return  to  the  contest  again  and  again 
until  he  rarely  failed  to  proye  victorious.  Equally 
marked  was  his  invincibility  of  spirit  in  maturer  age, 
when  raised  by  fortune  and  his  own  merit  to  a  higher 
and  more  honorable  field  of  action.  Defeat  in  battle 
he  rarely  experienced  ;  but  when  he  did,  his  retreat  was 
sullen,  stern  and  dangerous. 

The  commencement  of  the  American  revolution 
found  Mr.  Morgan  married,  and  cultivating  a  farm, 
which  by  industry  and  economy  he  had  been  enabled 
to  purchase  in  the  county  of  Frederick.  Placed  at 
the  head  of  a  rifle  company  raised  in  his  neighbor 


MORGAN    SUPERIOR    TO    TEMPTATION.  67 

hood  in  1775,  he  marched  immediately  to  the  Ameri 
can  head-quarters  in  Cambridge,  near  Boston.  By 
order  of  the  Commander-in-chief,  he  soon  afterwards 
joined  in  the  expedition  against  Quebec,  and  was 
made  prisoner  in  the  attempt  on  that  fortress,  where 
Arnold  was  wounded  and  Montgomery  fell.  During 
the  assault,  his  daring  valor  and  persevering  gallantry 
attracted  the  notice  and  admiration  of  the  enemy.  The 
assailing  column  to  which  he  belonged  was  led  by 
Major  Arnold.  When  that  officer  was  wounded  and 
carried  from  the  ground,  Morgan  threw  himself  into*t he 
lead,  and  rushing  forward,  passed  the  first  and  second 
barriers.  For  a  moment  victory  appeared  certain.  But 
the  (all  of  Montgomery  closing  the  prospect,  the  assail 
ants  were  repulsed  and  the  enterprise  abandoned.* 

During  his  captivity,  Captain  Morgan  was  treated 
with  great  kindness  and  not  a  little  distinction.  Me 
was  repeatedly  visited  in  confinement  by  a  British  offi 
cer  of  rank,  who  at  length  made  an  attempt  on  his 
patriotism  and  virtue  by  offering  him  the  commission 
and  emoluments  of  Colonel  in  the  British  army  on  con 
dition  that  he  would  desert  the  American  and  join  the 
royal  standard.  Morgan  rejected  the  proposal  with 
scorn ;  and  requested  the  courtly  and  corrupt  negocia- 
tor  "  never  again  to  insult  him  in  his  misfortunes  by  an 
offer  which  plainly  implied  that  he  thought  him  a  vil 
lain."  The  officer  withdrew  and  did  not  again  recur 
to  the  subject. 

On  bejng  exchanged,  Morgan  immediately  rejoined 
the  American  army,  and  received,  by  the  recommenda 
tion  of  General  Washington,  the  command  of  a  regi 
ment.  In  the  year  1777,  he  was  placed  at  the  head  of 

*  Caldwell's  Life  of  Greene. 


88  MARION    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

a  select  rifle  corps,  with  which  in  various  instances  he 
acted  on  the  enemy  with  terrible  effect.  His  troops 
were  considered  the  most  dangerous  in  the  American 
service.  To  confront  them  in  the  field  was  almost  cer 
tain  death  to  the  British  officers. 

On  the  occasion  of  the  capture  of  Burgoyne,  the  ex 
ertions  and  services  of  Colonel  Morgan  and  his  rifle 
men  were  beyond  all  praise.  Much  of  the  glory  of  the 
achievement  belonged  to  them.  Yet  so  gross  was  the 
injustice  of  General  Gates,  that  he  did  not  even  men 
tion  them  in  his  official  despatches.  His  reason  for 
this  was  secret  and  dishonorable.  Shortly  after  the 
surrender  of  Burgoyne,  General  Gates  took  occasion  to 
hold  with  Morgan  a  private  conversation.  In  the  course 
of  this  he  told  him  confidentially,  that  the  main  army 
was  exceedingly  dissatisfied  with  the  conduct  of  Gene 
ral  Washington  ;  that  the  reputation  of  the  Commander- 
in-chief  was  rapidly  declining;  and  that  several  officers 
of  great  worth  threatened  to  resign  unless  a  change 
were  produced  in  that  department. 

Colonel  Morgan,  fathoming  in  an  instant  the  views 
of  his  commanding  officer,  sternly  and  with  honest  in 
dignation  replied,  "  Sir,  I  have  one  favor  to  ask.  Ne 
ver  again  mention  to  me  this  hateful  subject ;  under  no 
other  man,  but  general  Washington  as  commander-in- 
chief,  will  I  ever  serve." 

From  that  moment  ceased  the  intimacy  that  had 
previously  subsisted  between  him  and  General  Gates. 
A  few  days  afterwards  the  general  gave  a  dinner  to 
the  principal  officers  of  the  British,  and  some  of  those 
of  the  American  army.  Morgan  was  not  invited.  In 
the  course  of  the  evening  that  officer  found  it  necessary 
to  call  on  general  Gates,  on  official  business.  Being 
introduced  into  the  dining-room,  lie  spoke  to  the  gene- 


MORGAN    AND    GATES.  89 

rai,  received  his  orders,  and  immediately  withdrew,  his 
name  unannounced. 

Perceiving  from  his  dress  that  he  was  of  high  rank, 
the  British  officers  inquired  his  name.  Being  told  that 
it  was  Colonel  Morgan  commanding  the  rifle  corps,  they 
rose  from  the  table,  followed  him  into  the  yard,  and  in 
troduced  themselves  to  him,  with  many  complimentary 
and  flattering  expressions,  declaring  that  on  the  day  of 
action  they  had  very  severely  felt  him  in  the  field. 

In  1780,  having  obtained  leave  of  absence  from  the 
army,  on  account  of  the  shattered  condition  of  his 
health,  he  retired  to  his  estate  in  the  county  of  Freder 
ick,  and  remained  there  until  the  appointment  of  gene 
ral  Gates  to  the  command  of  the  Southern  army.  Be 
ing  waited  on  by  the  latter,  and  requested  to  accompany 
him,  he  reminded  him,  in  expressions  marked  by  resent 
ment,  of  the  unworthy  treatment  he  had  formerly  ex 
perienced  from  him  in  return  for  the  important  services 
which  he  did  not  hesitate  to  assert  he  had  rendered  him, 
in  his  operations  against  the  army  of  Gen.  Burgoyne. 

Having  received  no  acknowledgment,  nor  even 
civility  for  aiding  to  decorate  him  with  laurels  in  the 
north,  he  frankly  declared  that  there  were  no  consider 
ations,  except  of  a  public  nature,  that  could  induce  him 
to  co-operate  in  his  campaigns  to  the  south.  "  Motives 
of  public  good  might  influence  him ;  because  his 
country  had  a  claim  on  him  in  any  quarter  where  he 
could  promote  her  interest ;  but  personal  attachment 
must  not  be  expected  to  exist  where  he  had  exper'enced 
nothing  but  neglect  and  injustice." 

The  two  officers  parted  mutually  dissatisfied ;  the 
one  on  account  of  past  treatment,  the  other  of  the  re 
cent  interview. 

In  the  course  of  a  few  weeks  afterwards,  Congress 


00  MARION    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

having  promoted  colonel  Morgan  to  the  rank  of  bri 
gadier-general  by  brevet,  with  a  view  to  avail  themselves 
of  his  services  in  the  south,  he  proceeded  without  delay 
to  join  the  army  of  General  Gates.  But  he  was  pre 
vented  from  serving  any  length  of  time  under  that 
officer,  by  his  defeat  near  Camden  before  his  arrival  ; 
and  his  being  soon  afterwards  superseded  in  command 
by  General  Greene. 

Such  were  the  qualifications,  and  such  had  been  the 
services  of  general  Morgan,  when  Greene  took  com 
mand  of  the  Southern  army.  His  conduct  in  the  battle 
of  the  Cowpens  will  be  stated  hereafter.  There  existed 
in  his  character  a  singular  contradiction  which  is 
worthy  of  notice.  Although  in  battle,  no  man  was 
ever  more  prodigal  of  the  exposure  of  his  person  to 
danger,  or  manifested  a  more  deliberate  disregard  of 
death,  yet  so  strong  was  his  love  of  life  at  other  times, 
than  he  has  been  frequently  heard  to  declare,  "  he 
would  agree  to  pass  half  his  time  as  a  galley-slave 
rather  than  quit  this  world  for  another." 

The  following  outline  of  his  person  and  character  is 
from  the  pen  of  a  military  friend  who  knew  him 
intimately.  "  Brigadier  General  Morgan  was  stout  and 
active,  six  feet  in  height,  strong,  not  too  much  encum 
bered  with  flesh,  and  was  exactly  fitted  for  the  toils  and 
pomp  of  war.  His  mind  was  discriminating  and  solid, 
but  not  comprehensive  and  combining  ;  his  manners 
plain  and  decorous,  neither  insinuating  nor  repulsive ; 
his  conversation  grave,  sententious,  and  considerate, 
unadorned  and  uncaptivating.  He  reflected  deeply, 
spoke  little,  and  executed  with  keen  perseverance  what 
ever  he  undertook.  He  was  indulgent  in  his  military 
command,  preferring  always  the  affections  of  his  troops, 


91 

to  that  dread  and  awe,  which  surround  the  rigid  dis 
ciplinarian." 

A  considerable  time  before  his  death,  when  the  pres 
sure  of  infirmity  began  to  be  heavy,  he  became  seriously 
concerned  about  his  future  welfare.  From  that  period, 
his  chief  solace  lay  in  the  study  of  the  scriptures,  and 
in  devotional  exercises.  He  died  in  the  belief  of  the 
truths  of  Christianity,  and  in  full  communion  with  the 
Presbyterian  church.* 

Gen.  Greene  fully  appreciated  the  value  of  an  officer 
like  a  Marion,  in  a  country  full  of  deep  rivers  and  im 
passable  creeks  and  swamps,  where  Whigs  and  Tories 
were  hourly  butchering  each  other.  "  Spies  are  the 
eyes  of  an  army,"  Greene  wrote  to  Marion,  "  and 
without  them  a  general  is  always  groping  in  the  dark, 
and  can  neither  secure  himself,  nor  annoy  his  enemy. 
At  present  I  am  badly  off  for  intelligence.  It  is  of  the 
highest  importance  that  I  get  the  earliest  intelligence  of 
any  reinforcement  which  may  arrive  at  Charleston.  I 
wish  you,  therefore,  to  fix  some  plan  for  procuring  such 
information  and  conveying  it  to  me  with  all  possible 
despatch.  The  spy  should  be  taught  to  be  particular  in 
his  inquiries,  and  get  the  names  of  the  corps,  strength, 
and  commanding  officer's  name — place  from  whence 
they  came  and  where  they  are  going.  It  will  be  best 
to  fix  upon  some  body  in  town  for  doing  this,  and  have 
a  runner  between  you  and  him  to  give  you  the  intelli 
gence  ;  as  a  person  who  lives  out  of  town  cannot  make 
the  inquiries  without  being  suspected.  The  utmost 
secrecy  will  be  necessary  in  the  business." 

Of  Marion  and  his  movements  at  this  time,  we  have 
the  following  description  from  the  pen  of  Col.  Lee. 

*  CaldwelPs  Life  of  Greene. 


92  MARION   AND    HIS    TIMES. 

"  Marion  was  about  forty-eight  years  of  age,  small  in 
stature,  hard  in  visage,  healthy,  abstemious  and  taciturn. 
Enthusiastically  wedded  to  the  cause  of  liberty,  he  de 
plored  the  doleful  condition  of  his  beloved  country. 
The  commonweal  was  his  sole  object ;  nothing  selfish, 
nothing  mercenary,  soiled  the  ermine  of  his  character. 
Fertile  in  stratagem,  he  struck  unperceived  ;  and  retir 
ing  to  those  hidden  retreats,  selected  by  himself,  in  the 
morasses  of  Pedee  and  Black  river,  he  placed  his  corps 
not  only  out  of  the  reach  of  his  foe,  but  often  out  of 
the  discovery  of  his  friends.  A  rigid  disciplinarian,  he 
reduced  to  practice  the  justice  of  his  heart ;  and  during 
the  difficult  course  of  warfare,  through  which  he  passed, 
calumny  itself  never  charged  him  with  violating  the 
rights  of  person,  property  or  humanity.  Never  avoid 
ing  danger,  he  never  rashly  sought  it ;  and  acting  for 
all  around  him  as  he  did  for  himself,  he  risked  the  lives 
of  his  troops  only  when  it  was  necessary.  Never 
elated  with  prosperity,  nor  depressed  by  adversity,  he 
preserved  an  equanimity  which  won  the  admiration  of 
his  friends,  and  exacted  the  respect  of  his  enemies. 
The  country  from  Camden  to  the  sea-coast,  between 
the  Pedee  and  Santee  rivers,  was  the  theatre  of  his 
exertions." 

When  Lee  joined  Marion,  previous  to  the  assault  on 
Georgetown,  (detailed  in  the  preceeding  chapter)  an 
officer,  with  a  small  party,  was  sent  in  advance  to  find 
out  Marion,  who  was  known  to  be  constantly  changing 
his  position  among  the  swamps  of  Pedee,  sometimes  in 
South  Carolina,  sometimes  in  North  Carolina,  and 
sometimes  on  the  Black  river.  With  the  greatest  diffi 
culty  did  this  officer  learn  how  to  communicate  with 
him ;  and  did  it  by  the  accident  of  hearing  among  our 
friends  on  the  north  side  of  the  Pedee,  of  a  small  pro- 


PREDATORY    WARFARE.  93 

vision  party  of  Marion  being  on  the  same  side  of  the 
river.  Making  himself  known  to  this  party,  he  was 
conveyed  to  the  general,  who  had  changed  his  ground 
since  his  party  left  him,  which  occasioned  many  hours 
search  even  before  his  own  men  could  find  him.* 

While  at  Snow's  island,  Marion  kept  himself  busy 
in  annoying  the  enemy.  In  January  1781,  he  sent 
two  small  detachments  of  militia,  under  the  command 
of  Major  Postell  and  Cap.  Postell,  to  cross  the  Santee. 
The  former  destroyed  a  great  quantity  of  valuable 
stores  at  Manigault's  ferry ;  the  latter  did  the  same  at 
another  place  in  the  vicinity.  Marion  himself  marched 
to  Keithneld,  near  Monk's  corner,  where  he  destroyed 
fourteen  wagon-loads  of  soldier's  clothing  and  baggage  ; 
besides  several  other  valuable  stores,  and  took  forty 
prisoners,  chiefly  British  regulars,  and  effected  the 
whole  without  any  loss.  In  the  course  of  these  desul 
tory  operations,  he  killed  and  captured  a  number  of 
British  and  Tories,  more  than  double  his  own  force.f 

Gen.  Greene,  conscious  that  it  would  be  madness  to 
encounter  the  superiority  of  the  British  forces  in  a 
pitched  battle,  encouraged  this  predatory  warfare,  and 
many  skillful  and  gallant  successes  were  obtained  over 
the  enemy  in  these  skirmishes.  On  one  occasion,  Bri 
gadier  Morgan  penetrated  the  country  between  the  two 
armies,  after  a  foraging  party  of  British.  But  the 
vigilant  adversary  eluded  the  blow,  and  returned  in 
safety  to  Camdea.  Lieut.  Col.  Washington,:):  at  the 
head  of  the  cavalry,  having  taken  a  more  extensive 

*  Lee's  Memoirs.  t  Ramsay.— See  Appendix  D. 

t  Lieut.  Col.  William  Washington,  eldest  son  of  Baily  Wash 
ington,  of  Stafford  county,  Va. 


MARION    AND    HIS    TIMES.  94 

range  than  the  infantry,  discovered  that  a  party  of  loy 
alists  were  stationed  at  Rudgley 's  farm,  about  twelve  miles 
from  Camden.  He  moved  instantly  towards  them,  in 
expectation  of  carrying  the  post  by  surprise ;  but  in  this 
he  was  disappointed,  as  they  occupied  a  barn,  surround 
ed  by  an  abattis,  and  secure  from  an  attempt  of  calva 
ry.  Rudgley  and  his  friends  were  delighted  with  the 
safety  their  precaution  had  produced,  and  viewed  the 
approach  of  horse  with  indifference.  Short  was  their 
repose.  Col.  Washington,  well  informed  of  the  char 
acter  of  his  enemy,  shaped  the  trunk  of  a  tree  in  imita 
tion  of  a  field  piece,  and,  bringing  it  up  in  military 
style,  affected  to  prepare  to  cannonade  the  barn.  To 
give  solemnity  to  the  device,  he  sent  in  a  flag,  warning 
the  garrison  of  the  impending  destruction,  which  could 
only  be  avoided  by  submission.  Not  prepared  to  resist 
artillery,  Rudgley  seized  with  promptitude  the  oppor 
tunity,  and,  with  his  garrison  of  one  hundred  men, 
surrendered  at  discretion ! 

Gen.  Greene,  understanding  that  the  inhabitants  of 
the  district  of  Ninety  six,  who  had  submitted  to  the  royal 
authority,  were  severely  harrassed  by  the  acts  of  plun 
der  committed  by  the  King's  troops  and  the  Tories,  des 
patched  Gen.  Morgan  into  that  quarter  with  a  small  de 
tachment,  which,  on  its  arrival,  was  speedily  increased 
by  the  oppressed  inhabitants,  who  were  highly  indig 
nant  and  burning  for  revenge.* 

The  British  commander-in-chief,  hearing  of  this 
movement,  despatched  Col.  Tarleton  with  a  command 
of  1100  men  to  drive  Morgan  out  of  the  district.  This 
detachment,  after  a  fatiguing  progress  of  some  days, 
at  about  ten  o'clock,  on  the  evening  of  the  16th  January, 

*  See  Appendix  E. 


THE    BATTLE    OP    COWPENS.  95 

(1781)  reached  the  ground  which  Morgan  had  quitted 
but  a  few  hours  previous.  The  pursuit  commenced  at 
2  o'clock  next  morning,  and  was  rapidly  continued 
through  marshes  and  broken  grounds  till  day-light. 

Morgan,  having  been  accustomed  to  fight  and  con 
quer,  did  not  relish  this  eager  pursuit  of  Tarleton  ;  and 
sate  down  at  a  place  called  the  Cowpens,  near  Pacolet 
river,  to  give  rest  and  refreshment  to  his  troops,  with 
a  resolution  no  longer  to  avoid  action,  should  his  enemy 
persist  in  pressing  it.  The  British,  beside  their  field 
pieces,  had  the  superiority  in  infantry,  in  the  proportion 
of  five  to  four,  and  in  cavalry  of  more  than  three  to 
one.  Beside,  nearly  two-thirds  of  the  troops  under  Mor 
gan  were  militia.  Morgan  drew  up  his  men  in  two 
lines.  The  whole  of  the  North  and  South  Carolina 
militia  present,  were  put  under  the  command  of  Col. 
Pickens,  and  formed  the  first  line,  which  was  advanced 
a  few  hundred  yards  before  the  second,  with  orders  to 
form  on  the  right  of  the  second  when  forced  to  retiree. 
The  second  line  consisted  of  the  light  infantry  under 
Lieut.  Col.  Howard,  and  the  Virginia  riflemen. 
Lieut.  Col.  Washington,  with  his  cavalry,  and  about 
forty-five  militia,  mounted  and  equipped  with  swords, 
under  Lieut.  M'Call,  were  drawn  up  at  some  distance 
in  the  rear  of  the  whole.  The  open  wood  in  which 
they  were  formed,  was  neither  secured  in  front,  flank 
or  rear.* 

On  the  verge  of  battle,  Morgan  availed  himself  of 
the  short  and  awful  interim  to  exhort  his  troops.  First 
addressing  himself,  with  his  characteristic  pith,  to  the 
line  of  militia,  he  extolled  the  zeal  and  bravery  so  often 
displayed  by  them,  when  unsupported  with  the  bayonet 

*  Gordon's  History. 


96  MARION    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

or  sword  ;  and  declared  his  confidence  that  they  would 
not  fail  in  maintaining  their  reputation,  when  supported 
by  chosen  bodies  of  horse  and  foot,  and  conducted  by 
himself.  Nor  did  he  forget  to  glance  at  his  own  unva 
rying  fortune,  and  superior  experience ;  or  to  mention 
how  often,  with  his  corps  of  riflemen,  he  had  brought 
British  troops,  equal  to  those  before  him,  to  submission. 
He  described  the  deep  regret  he  had  already  experienced 
in  being  obliged,  from  prudential  considerations,  to  re 
tire  before  the  enemy  ;  exhorted  the  line  to  be  firm  and 
steady,  to  fire  with  good  aim,  arid  if  they  would  pour 
in  but  two  volleys  at  killing  distance,  he  would  take 
upon  himself  to  secure  victory.  Then,  taking  post  with 
his  line,  he  waited  in  stern  silence  for  the  enemy.* 

The  British,  led  by  Tarleton  himself,  advanced  with 
a  loud  shout  to  the  attack,  and  poured  in  an  incessant 
fire  of  musketry.  Col.  Pickens  directed  the  militia  not 
to  fire  until  the  British  were  within  forty  or  fifty  yards. 
This  order,  though  executed  with  great  firmness,  was 
not  sufficient  to  repel  the  enemy.  The  British  ad 
vanced  rapidly  and  engaged  the  second  line.  The 
Continentals,  after  an  obstinate  resistance,  were  com 
pelled  to  retreat  to  the  cavalry.  Col.  Ogilvie,  of  the 
enemy,  had  been  ordered  to  charge  the  right  flank  of 
the  Americans,  and  was  engaged  in  cutting  down  the 
militia  ;  but  being  exposed  to  a  heavy  fire,  and  charged 
at  the  same  time  by  Col.  Washington's  dragoons,  he  was 
forced  to  retreat  in  confusion.  A  great  number  of  the 
British  infantry  officers  had  already  fallen,  and  nearly 
a  proportionable  one  of  privates.  Col.  Howard  seized 
this  favorable  opportunity,  rallied  the  Continentals,  and 
charged  with  fixed  bayonets,  nearly  at  the  same  mo- 

*  Lee's  Memoirs. 


VICTORY   OF   THE    AMERICANS.  97 

ment  when  Col.  Washington  made  his  successful  at 
tack.  The  example  was  instantly  followed  by  the 
militia.  Nothing  could  exceed  the  astonishment  of  the 
British,  occasioned  by  these  unexpected  charges. 
Their  advance  fell  back,  and  communicated  a  panic  to 
others,  which  soon  became  general.  Two  hundred 
and  fifty  horse,  which  had  not  been  engaged,  fled 
through  the  woods  with  the  utmost  precipitation,  bearing 
down  such  officers  as  opposed  their  flight ;  and  the 
canon  were  soon  seized  by  the  Americans,  the  detach 
ment  from  the  train  being  either  killed  or  wounded  in 
their  defence.  The  greatest  confusion  now  followed 
among  the  infantry.  In  the  moment  of  it,  Lieut.  Col. 
Howard  called  to  them  to  lay  down  their  arms,  and 
promised  them  good  quarters.  Some  hundreds  accepted 
the  offer  and  surrendered.  The  first  battalion  of  the 
71st.  regiment,  and  two  British  light-infantry  com 
panies,  laid  down  their  arms  to  the  American  militia. 
The  only  body  of  infantry  that  escaped  was  a  detach 
ment  left  at  some  distance  to  guard  the  baggage. 
Early  intelligence  of  the  defeat  was  conveyed,  by  some 
Tories,  to  the  officer  commanding  that  corps.  What 
part  of  the  baggage  could  not  be  carried  off,  he  imme 
diately  destroyed  ;  and  with  his  men  mounted  on  the 
wagons  and  spare  horses,  he  retreated  to  Lord  Corn- 
wallis.  The  British  had  10  commissioned  officers  and 
upwards  of  a  100  rank  and  file  killed ;  200  wounded; 
29  commissioned  officers,  and  above  500  privates  fell 
into  the  hands  of  the  Americans,  besides  two  pieces  of 
artillery  (first  taken  from  the  British  at  Saratoga,  then 
retaken  by  them  at  Camden,  and  now  recovered  by  the 
Americans)  two  standards,  800  muskets,  35  baggage 
wagons,  and  upwards  of  100  dragoon  horses. 

Col.  Washington  pursued  Tarleton's  cavalry  for  sev- 
9 


98  MARION    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

era!  miles,  but  the  far  greater  part  of  them  escaped. 
In  the  eagerness  of  pursuit,  Col.  Washington  advanced 
nearly  thirty  yards  in  front  of  his  regiment.  Observing 
this,  three  British  officers  wheeled  about,  and  made  a 
charge  upon  him.  The  officer  on  his  right  was  aim 
ing  to  cut  him  down,  when  a  sergeant  came  up  and 
intercepted  the  blow  by  disabling  his  sword  arm.  At 
the  same  instant,  the  officer  on  his  left  was  also  about 
to  make  a  stroke  at  him,  when  a  waiter,  too  small  to 
wield  a  sword,  saved  him  by  wounding  the  officer  with 
a  ball  discharged  from  a  pistol.  At  this  moment  the 
officer  in  the  centre,  who  was  believed  to  be  Tarleton, 
made  a  thrust  at  him,  which  he  parried ;  upon  which 
the  officer  retreated  a  few  paces,  and  then  discharged 
a  pistol  at  him,  which  wounded  his  knee.* 

In  this  battle  the  Americans  had  only  12  men  killed 
and  60  wounded. 

In  the  meantime  General  Marion  actively  followed 
up  his  operations  against  the  British  and  Tories  on  the 
Pedee  river,  and  he  so  effectually  thwarted  the  schemes 
of  the  enemy,  that  to  drive  him  out  of  the  country  be 
came  again  a  favorite  object  of  Lord  Cornwallis.  He 
and  his  brigade  were  the  terror  of  the  Tories.  A.  new 
and  well-concerted  attempt  to  destroy,  or  disperse,  the 
brigade  was  made  early  in  1781.  Tarleton  and  others, 
as  we  have  seen,  were  engaged  in  pursuit  of  Marion 
without  success ;  and  now  a  Col.  Watson  was  sent 
with  a  body  of  picked  men,  amounting  to  five  hundred, 
with  orders  to  search  him  out  and  destroy  him  and  his 
brigade.  This  march  was  to  be  conducted  with  great 
caution,  and  was  remarkably  well  planned. 

Meanwhile  Marion,  Col.  Horry,  Major  and  Captain 

*  Marshall's  Life  of  Washington. 


INHUMANITY    OF    THE    TORIES.  99 

Postell,  M'Cawley,  and  others,  continued  their  opera 
tions  against  the  British  posts  and  the  Tories.  The 
warfare  was  various  and  bloody.  Marion  always  felt 
the  want  of  ammunition.  Often  did  he  go  into  an  en 
gagement  when  he  had  not  three  rounds  to  each  man 
of  his  party.  At  other  times  he  brought  his  men  into 
view,  though  without  a  particle  of  ammunition,  that  he 
might  make  a  show  of  numbers  to  the  enemy.  To 
provide  swords  for  his  brigade,  the  saws  of  the  mills 
throughout  the  country  were  put  into  the  hands  of 
blacksmiths  and  converted  into  sabres.  He  and  his 
men  slept  in  the  open  air,  and  sheltered  themselves  in 
the  thick  recesses  of  deep  swamps ;  from  whence  he 
sallied  out  whenever  an  opportunity  of  harassing  the 
enemy  presented  itself. 

Lieut.  Roger  Gordon,  of  Marion's  party,  being  on  a 
scout  upon  Lynch's  creek,  stopped  at  a  house  for  re 
freshments.  While  there,  the  house  was  beset  and 
fired  by  a  Capt.  Butler  and  a  party  of  Tories,  greatly 
superior  in  numbers.  Gordon's  party  surrendered 
upon  a  promise  of  quarters,  but  after  laying  down  their 
arms,  Butler  fell  upon  them  and  butchered  ihemincold 
blood.  In  consequence  of  this  massacre  "  No  quarters 
for  Tories"  was  hereafrer  the  cry  of  Marion's  men 
when  going  into  action.  Still,  however,  the  regular 
British  forces  were  treated  with  lenity,  and  agreeably 
to  the  generally  received  rule^of  war,  when  they  laid 
down  their  arms. 

Whilst  the  brigade  were  encamped  at  Snow's  island, 
Major  John  Postell  was  stationed  to  guard  the  lower 
part  of  the  river  Pedee.  While  there,  Capt.  James 
Depeyster  of  the  royal  army,  with  29  grenadiers, 
having  taken  post  in  the  house  of  the  major's  father, 
the  major  posted  his  small  command  of  28  militia  men 
u 


100  MARION    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

in  such  positions  as  commanded  its  doors,  and  demand 
ed  their  surrender.  This  being  refused,  he  set  fire  to 
an  out-house,  and  was  proceeding  to  burn  that  in  which 
they  were  posted ;  and  nothing  but  the  immediate 
submission  of  the  whole  party  restrained  him  from 
sacrificing  his  father's  valuable  property  to  gain  an 
advantage  for  his  country. 

As  has  been  stated,  careful  preparations  were  in  em 
bryo  for  the  surprise  and  capture  of  Marion  and  his 
brigade.  Col.  Watson,  to  whom  this  expedition  was 
entrusted,  left  Fort  Watson  early  in  the  spring,  with 
five  hundred  men ;  and  at  the  same  time  Col.  Doyle, 
at  the  head  of  a  British  regiment,  left  Camden,  to  join 
Watson  at  Snow's  island,  as  it  is  supposed.  Watson 
moved  down  the  Santee.  Of  his  movements  Marion 
had  ample  information,  but  the  slow  approach  of  Doyle 
was  in  a  measure  unsuspected. 

Marion  called  in  his  scouting  parties,  and  marched 
with  his  whole  force  to  encounter  Watson.  He  laid 
the  first  ambuscade  for  Watson,  at  a  swamp  nearly 
opposite  the  mouth  of  the  present  Santee  canal,  on  the 
east  side  of  the  river.  Marion  had  but  very  little  am 
munition  ;  not  more  than  two  rounds  to  each  man.  His 
orders  were  to  give  two  fires  and  retreat ;  and  they 
were  executed  by  Col.  Peter  Horry  with  great  effect. 
Watson  made  good  the  passage  of  the  swamp,  and  sent 
Major  Harrison,  with  a*corps,of  Tory  cavalry  and 
British,  in  pursuit  of  Horry.  This  had  been  forseen 
by  the  cautious  Marion ;  and  Cap.  Daniel  Conyers,  at 
the  head  of  a  party  of  cavalry,  was  placed  in  a  second 
ambuscade.  As  soon  as  the  Tories  and  British  came 
up,  Conyers,  in  a  spirited  and  well-directed  charge 
killed  with  his  own  hands  the  officer  who  led  the  oppo 
site  charge,  (Harrison,)  and  his  men  followed  his  gal- 


MARION    FOBBING    THE    RIVER.  101 

lant  example.  Many  of  Harrison's  party  were  killed, 
and  the  remainder  made  their  escape  to  the  main  body 
of  the  British. 

Marion  continued  to  harrass  Watson  on  his  march, 
keeping  just  sufficiently  ahead  of  him  to  place  an  am 
buscade  wherever  an  opportunity  presented  itself;  by 
pulling  up  bridges,  and  opposing  him  in  like  manner 
at  every  difficult  pass,  until  they  reached  the  lower 
bridge  oh  Black  river,  seven  miles  below  King's  Tree. 
Here  Watson  made  a  feint  of  marching  down  the 
road  to  Georgetown.  Marion,  being  too  weak  to  de 
tach  a  party  t«  the  bridge,  had  taken  an  advantageous 
post  on  the  road  ;  when  Watson,  wheeling  suddenly 
about,  gained  possession  of  the  bridge  on  the  west  side. 
This  was  an  important  pass  on  the  road  leading  into 
the  heart  of  Williamsburg  and  to  Snow's  island.  The 
river  on  the  west  runs  under  a  high  bluff;  the  grounds 
on  the  opposite  side  are  low,  and  the  river,  though 
generally  fordable,  was  then  raised  by  a  freshet  nearly 
up  to  the  summit  of  the  opposite  shore. 

Watson  still  hesitated  about  passing.  Marion,  with 
out  delay,  approached  the  river,  plunged  into  it  on 
horseback,  and  called  his  men  to  follow.  With  alac 
rity  they  one  and  all  followed  their  gallant  leader, 
reached  the  opposite  shore  in  safety,  and  marched  for 
ward  to  occupy  the  east  end  of  the  bridge.  Marion 
detached  Major  James  with  forty  musqueteers,  and 
thirty  riflemen  under  M'Cottry,  to  burn  the  bridge. 
The  riflemen  were  posted  to  advantage  on  the  river 
bank;  but  as  soon  as  their  friends  had  gained  posses 
sion  of  the  east  end  of  the  bridge,  and  had  applied 
fascines  to  it,  Watson  opened  the  fire  of  his  artillery 
upon  them  ;  but  it  was  unavailing.  The  west  bank  of 
the  river  was  so  much  elevated  above  the  east,  that  be- 
9* 


102  MARION    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

fore  his  field  pieces  could  be  brought  to  bear  upon  the 
Americans,  his  artillerists  were  exposed  to  the  fire  of 
the  riflemen,  who  deliberately  picked  them  off  as  they 
advanced  to  the  summit  of  the  hill.  In  the  meantime 
Major  James's  party  fired  the  bridge. 

Watson  was  now  completely  cut  off  in  his  attempt 
to  pass  the  river,  and  he  was  so  much  intimidated  that 
he  retreated  down  the  banks  of  the  stream,  Marion's 
men  picking  off  his  men  from  the  opposite  shore. 
Night  put  an  end  to  the  conflict,  and  both  parties  en 
camped  in  the  woods.  On  the  following  day,  Marion 
as  successfully  baffled  every  attempt  of«the  enemy  to 
cross  the  river,  and  Watson  found  himself  losing  so 
many  of  his  men,  and  the  sharp-shooters  of  the  Amer 
icans  annoyed  him  so  effectually,  that  he  turned  and 
retreated  higher  up  the  river;  pitching  his  camp  in  the 
most  open  field  he  could  find,  dreading  the  woods,  be 
hind  every  tree  of  which  he  feared  a  rifle.  Thus  he 
remained  several  days,  completely  surrounded  by  an 
active  foe,  who  cut  off  his  supplies,  and  his  men  were 
almost  hourly  perishing  in  the  continued  skirmishing 
that  the  Americans  kept  up.  He  finally  proceeded  by 
forced  marches  towards  Georgetown.  Marion  re- 
crossed  the  river,  and  hung  alternately  on  the  rear,  the 
flanks,  or  the  front  of  the  enemy,  until  they  reached 
Sawpit  bridge,  nine  miles  from  Georgetown,  where  a 
skirmish  took  place,  in  which  Watson  very  nearly  lost 
his  life.  Watson,  fatigued  in  body,  and  mortified  in 
spirits,  finally  reached  Georgetown. 

Col.  Doyle,  meanwhile,  had  reached  Snow's  island, 
and  driven  Col.  Erwin,  who  had  been  left  there  with  a 
few  men  to  guard  it,  from  the  place,  and  Marion's 
stores  had  fallen  into  his  hands.  This  was  disastrous 
intelligence  to  Marion,  but,  much  as  he  grieved  over 


RETREAT    OP    DOYLE.  105 

the  loss  of  arms  and  ammunition,  he  was  too  well 
schooled  in  adversity  to  regard  it  in  any  other  light 
than  an  accident  of  war,  and  he  promptly  marched  his 
men  in  pursuit  of  Doyle.  Doyle  made  his  way  to 
Lynch's  creek  at  Witherspoon's  ferry,  where  he  posted 
himself.  When  Marion  arrived  at  the  creek,  they  dis 
covered  the  British  on  the  opposite  side  busy  in  scut 
tling  the  ferry  boat.  M'Cottry  advanced  in  front, 
cautiously  approaching  the  water's  edge,  and  gave 
them  an  unexpected  fire.  A  short  conflict  took  place, 
the  balls  of  the  enemy  hitting  the  branches  and  tops 
of  the  trees  behind  which  the  riflemen  of  M'Cottry 
were  sheltered,  whilst  the  well  directed  aim  of  the  latter 
seldom  failed  of  doing  execution.  Doyle  retreated, 
pursued  several  miles  by  Marion,  and  finally  hurried 
as  fast  as  possible  back  to  Camden. 

This  attempt  to  capture  Marion  and  disperse  his 
brigade,  proved  as  successful  as  the  former  similar 
undertakings  of  Wemyss  and  Tarleton. 

In  addition  to  these  skirmishes,  Marion  made  two 
descents  upon  Georgetown.  In  the  first,  he  came  un 
expectedly  on  a  body  of  Tories  whom  he  charged  and 
dispersed,  killing  their  captain  and  several  privates.  In 
the  second,  he  marched  to  Georgetown,  and  began  re 
gular  approaches  against  the  British  post  at  that  place. 
The  British  evacuated  their  works,  and  retreated  to 
Charleston. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Cornwallis  pursues  the  American  army.  Greene  joins 
Morgan.  Crossing  of  the  Catawba — crossing  the  Yad- 
kin — crossing  the  Dan.  Marion's  enter  prize  against 
the  British  and  Tories.  Gen.  Greene  returns  into 
North  Carolina.  A  gathering  of  the  Tories ;  Colonel 
Lee's  manoeuvre  by  which  between  200  and  300  of  them 
are  cut  to  pieces.  Tarleton's  retreat.  Greene  asking 
bread  of  his  soldiers.  The  battle  of  Guilford  Court- 
House.  Marion  besieges  Fort  Watson — Lee  joins  him 
—novel  expedient  by  which  the  fort  is  captured.  The 
battle  of  Camden,  <SfC. 

THE  defeat  of  Col.  Tarleton  at  Cowpens  was  highly 
unexpected  to  Lord  Cornwallis,  and  he  instantly  re 
solved  on  a  pursuit  of  the  American  army,  with  an 
expectation  of  demolishing  Morgan's  corps,  and  re 
gaining  the  British  prisoners  he  had  taken.  Having 
presented  to  the  reader  the  partizan  movements  of 
Marion,  we  now  proceed  to  sketch  the  history  of  the 
army  up  to  the  point  of  time  concluding  the  exploits 
of  the  partizans  in  the  previous  chapter. 

Morgan,  aware  of  the  consequences  of  delay,  sent 
on  the  militia  with  the  prisoners  taken  at  Cowpens,  and, 
to  cover  their  retreat,  manceuvred  in  their  rear  with  his 
cavalry  and  infantry.  Greene  concluded  that  if  he 
were  present  with  Morgan,  he  could  so  order  the  move 
ments  of  both  divisions  for  forming  a  junction,  ns 
would  excel  any  directions  which  could  otherwise  be 
given.  He  therefore  left  the  camp,  and  set  forward, 
attended  by  one  aid-de-camp,  and  two  or  three  militia 
men  armed  and  mounted.  The  first  intelligence  he 

106 


f. 
CROSSING    OF    THE    CATAWBA.  107 

gained  on  the  route  was  that  Cornwallis  was  marching 
after  Morgan  with  great  expedition.  Greene  continued 
his  route,  and,  on  the  31st  of  January,  after  a  journey 
of  150  miles,  joined  the  light  troops  encamped  at 
Sherrard's  Ford,  on  the  north  side  of  the  Catawba. 
About  two  hours  after  Morgan  crossed  the  Catawba, 
the  British  advance  arrived.  It  rained  hard  that  night, 
and  the  river  rose  so  high  as  to  prevent  Cornwallis 
from  getting  over.  Had  the  rise  taken  place  a  few 
hours  earlier,  Morgan,  with  his  whole  detachment  and 
five  hundred  prisoners,  would  scarcely  have  had  a 
chance  of  escaping.  Cornwallis  could  not  cross  for 
two  days,  which  gave  an  opportunity  of  sending  the 
prisoners  forward  with  safety. 

The  arrival  of  Gen.  Greene  was  no  less  providen 
tial  than  the  rise  of  the  river.  Gen.  Morgan  was  for 
retreating  over  the  mountains,  a  different  route  from 
what  Greene  proposed.  So  attached  to  his  own  opin 
ion  was  Morgan,  he  declared  he  would  not  be  answer 
able  for  consequences  if  it  was  not  followed.  "  Neither 
will  you,"  replied  Greene,  "  for  I  shall  take  the  mea 
sure  upon  myself,"  and  he  gave  directions  accordingly. 
The  event  has  shown  that  the  other  route  must  have 
proved  fatal,  and  that  the  junction  of  the  light  troops 
with  the  main  army  could  not  have  been  effected 
by  it. 

When  the  waters  subsided,  Cornwallis  crossed  the 
Catawba,  and  hurried  on  after  the  Americans,  hoping 
to  overtake  them  before  they  should  get  over  the  Yad- 
kin  ;  but  when  he  arrived  at  that  river,  to  his  great 
mortification,  he  found  that  the  Americans  had  crossed 
it,  partly  in  flats,  and  partly  by  fording,  and  had  se 
cured  the  boats  on  the  other  side.  Here,  as  at  the 


108  MARION  AND  HIS  TIMES. 

Catawba,  a  rapid  rise  of  the  river  took  place,  and  re 
tarded  the  British. 

Unable  to  cross  at  the  spot  where  the  Americans  did, 
Cornwallis  was  obliged  to  march  his  troops  twenty-five 
miles  higher  up  the  stream,  where  he  found  it  fordable. 
And  whilst  he  was  employed  in  this  circuitous  move 
ment,  time  was  given  for  Greene  to  unite  his  main  army 
with  the  forces  of  Morgan,  on  the  7th  of  February,  near 
Guilford  Court  House,  where  they  rested  and  refreshed 
themselves.  Greene's  forces  still  being  so  weak  in  com 
parison  to  the  enemy,  he  did  not  choose  to  risk  an  en 
gagement,  but  hastened  on  towards  the  river  Dan ; 
whilst  Cornwallis,  traversing  the  upper  country  where 
the  streams  are  fordable,  proceeded  in  the  hope  that  he 
might  gain  upon  the  Americans  so  as  to  overtake  them, 
in  consequence  of  their  being  obstructed  by  the  deep 
water  below.  But  the  advantages  resulting  from  the 
season  of  the  year,  and  from  the  face  of  a  country  in 
tersected  with  rivers  and  creeks,  were  so  improved  by 
the  sagacity  and  activity  of  Greene,  as  completely  to 
baffle  Cornwallis ;  and  his  army  crossed  the  Dan  into 
Virginia,  artillery,  baggage  and  all.  So  narrow  was 
the  escape,  however,  that  the  van  of  Cornwallis's  army 
arrived  in  time  to  witness  the  ferrying  over  the  rear. 

It  was  with  inexpressible  vexation  that  Cornwallis  dis 
covered  all  his  exertions  had  been  in  vain,  that  all  his 
hopes  were  frustrated.  He  consoled  himself,  however,  with 
the  reflection  that  the  American  army  being  driven  out 
of  North  Carolina,  he  was  master  of  the  State,  and  in 
a  condition  to  recruit  his  forces  by  the  accession  of 
Tories  to  his  ranks.  He  erected  the  royal  standard  at 
Hillsborough,  and  summoned  all  true  subjects  of  His 
Majesty,  George  III,  to  repair  to  it. 

During  these   transactions,  Gen.   Marion  defended 


RISING    OF   THE   TORIES.  109 

himself  with  his  faithful  brigade,  in  the  swamps  and 
morasses  of  the  settlements  near  Charleston,  and  was 
frequently  sallying  out  from  his  hiding-places,  and  en- 
terprizing  something  in  behalf  of  his  country.  He  in 
tercepted  the  British  convoys,  infested  their  out-posts, 
destroyed  their  stores,  beat  up  their  quarters,  and  so 
harrassed  them  with  alarms  that  they  were  always 
obliged  to  be  on  their  guard. 

Cornwallis  had  long  been  led  to  suppose  that  there 
would  be  a  general  risingof  loyalists  in  his  favor  through 
out  the  State  of  North  Carolina.  Greene  being  informed 
that  numbers  had  actually  joined  the  royal  standard  at 
Hillsborough,  and  that  many  others  were  repairing  to 
make  their  submission,  was  apprehensive  that,  unless 
some  spirited  measure  was  immediately  taken,  the 
whole  country  would  be  lost  to  the  American  cause. 
He  concluded,  therefore,  upon  returning  into  North 
Carolina.  He  re-crossed  the  Dan  on  the  21st  of  Febru 
ary,  and,  the  more  effectually  to  alarm  Cornwallis  and 
discourage  the  Tories,  rode  with  his  aid-de-camp  twenty- 
one  miles  towards  the  enemy,  and  within  about  fifteen 
of  his  lordship.  The  report  of  his  being  within  that 
distance  soon  reached  Cornwallis,  who  inferred  that  the 
American  army  was  equally  near;  and  he  despatched 
Col.  Tarleton  with  the  British  legion  from  Hillsborough 
across  the  Haw  river  to  Major  O'Niell's  plantation,  to 
protect  a  considerable  number  of  loyalists  appointed  to 
meet  there  on  the  24th  inst.  Gen.  Pickens  and  Col. 
Lee,  who  had  intelligence  of  Tarleton's  movements, 
concerted  measures  to  bring  him  to  action.  Lee's  cav 
alry  were  to  attack  those  of  Tarleton's  command, 
while  Pickens'  militia  should  disperse  the  collected 
Tories.  These  Tories  got  together  in  a  great  body,  on 
the  night  of  February  25th,  in  a  long  lane  leading 
10 


110  MARION   AND  HIS  TIMES. 

towards  O'Neill's  house.  Lee  led  his  cavalry  into  the 
lane,  mistaking  the  Tories  for  a  part  of  Pickens' militia, 
which  he  supposed  had  arrived  there  before  him.  After 
he  discovered  the  distinguishing  red  rag  in  their  hats, 
he  with  great  presence  of  mind  passed  on,  intending  to 
leave  them  to  the  treatment  of  their  countrymen  under 
Pickens.  When  these  came  up,  and  a  firing  had  com 
menced  between  them  and  the  royalists,  Lee,  with  his 
cavalry,  returned  and  fell  upon  the  latter,  who  not  see 
ing  Tarleton's  dragoons,  mistook  Lee's  cavalry  for 
them.  While  laboring  under  this  mistake,  Lee  and  his 
cavalry  cut  them  down  as  they  were  making  ardenl 
protestations  of  loyalty,  and  asserting  "that  they  were 
the  very  best  friends  to  the  king."  A  horrid  slaughter 
was  made  of  them,  between  200  and  300  being  cut  to 
pieces. 

Tarleton  was  refreshing  his  legion  about  a  mile  from 
the  scene.  Upon  hearing  the  alarm,  he  ordered  his 
men  to  mount,  precipitately  re-crossed  the  Haw,  and 
returned  to  Hitlsborough.  On  his  retreat  he  also  cut 
down  several  of  the  royalists  as  they  were  advancing 
to  join  the  British  army,  mistaking  them  for  rebel  mili 
tia  of  the  country.  This  event,  together  with  Greene's 
having  re-crossed  the  Dan,  confused  all  the  measures 
of  Cornwallis.  The  tide  of  public  sentiment  was  no 
longer  in  his  favor.  The  recruiting  service  declined 
and  was  stopped,  which,  had  it  proceeded  a  fortnight 
longer,  would  have  so  strengthened  his  lordship  that  it 
is  more  than  probable  he  would  have  been  able  to  keep 
possession  of  the  country.  The  advocates  for  royal 
government  were  discouraged,  and  could  not  be  induced 
to  act  with  confidence.  Considerable  numbers  who 
were  on  their  way  to  join  his  lordship,  returned  home 
to  await  further  events. 


ACTION    NEAR   GUILFOED    COURT   HOUSE         111 

While  Gen.  Greene  was  in  fact  unequal  to  even  de 
fensive  measures,  and  waited  to  have  his  army 
strengthened,  he  lay  for  seven  days  within  ten  miles 
of  Cornwallis'  camp ;  but  he  took  a  new  position  every 
night,  and  kept  it  as  profound  a  secret  with  himself 
where  the  next  was  to  be ;  so  that  Cornwallis  could  not 
gain  intelligence  of  his  situation  in  time  to  avail  him 
self  of  it.  During  these  manoeuvres,  Greene  was  often 
obliged  to  ask  bread  of  the  common  soldiers,  having 
none  of  his  own.  Miserable  too  was  the  situation  of 
his  men  for  clothing,  "  many  hundreds  of  the  soldiers 
marking  the  ground  with  their  bloody  feet.  But  not 
withstanding  their  sufferings  and  excessive  fatigue,  they 
remained  in  good  spirits."* 

On  the  15th  of  March  an  engagement  took  place 
near  Guilford  Court-house.  All  the  advantages  of  vic 
tory  were  on  the  side  of  the  Americans,  for  although 
Cornwallis  kept,  the  field,  he  had  suffered  such  loss  in 
the  action,  that  he  was  unable  to  act  on  the  offensive 
directly  after,  and  was  soon  compelled  to  march  to 
wards  Wilmington,  (N.C.)  leaving  his  sick  and  wounded 
behind  him.  On  his  retreat  he  was  pursued  by  Gen. 
Greene  as  far  as  Deep  river. f 

The  prompt  resolution  of  Gen.  Greene  now  was  to 
carry  the  war  without  delay  into  South  Carolina  ;  there 
by  to  oblige  the  enemy  to  follow  him,  or  to  endanger 

*  Letter  from  Greene  to  Gen.  Washington. — One  day,  Gen. 
Greene,  passing  a  sentinel  who  was  barefooted,  said  "  I  fear,  my 
good  fellow,  you  suffer  much  from  the  cold." — "  Very  much," 
was  the  reply,  "but  I  don't  complain;  I  know  we  should  fare 
better  if  our  general  had  the  means  of  getting  us  supplied.  They 
say,  however,  we  shall  have  a  fight  in  a  few  days,  and  then  I  shall 
take  care  to  secure  a  pair  of  shoes  for  myself." 

i  See  Appendix  F. 


112  MARION   AND    HIS    TIMES. 

their  posts  in  that  state.  He  discharged  all  his  militia, 
refreshed  his  regular  troops,  collected  a  few  days'  pro 
visions,  marched  on  the  5th  of  April  towards  Camden, 
and  in  the  morning  of  the  20th  encamped  at  Log-town, 
within  sight  of  the  enemy's  works.  On  this  march, 
Col.  Lee,  with  his  partizan  legion,  was  detached  to  join 
Gen.  Marion,  on  a  secret  expedition.  To  secure  the 
provisions  that  grow  on  the  banks  of  the  Santee  and 
Congaree  rivers,  the  British  had  erected  a  chain  of 
posts  in  their  vicinity.  One  of  the  most  important  was 
on  Wright's  Bluff,  and  called  Fort  Watson,  situated  be 
tween  Camden  and  Charleston.  To  take  this  fort  was 
a  desirable  object  of  the  commander  of  the  American 
army,  and  the  undertaking  was  consigned  to  Marion, 
and  Lee  was  to  assist. 

Lee  having  arrived  within  a  day's  distance  of  the 
Pedee,  sent  forward  an  officer,  with  a  small  party  of 
dragoons,  to  discover  in  what  part  of  his  extensive 
range  the  Swamp  Fox  then  was.  The  officer,  on 
reaching  the  river,  learned  that  Marion,  when  heard 
from  a  few  days  before,  was  in  the  swamps  of  Black 
river.  This  was  his  general  quarters  when  he  found 
it  necessary  to  retire  from  active  service.  It  not  only 
afforded  safety,  but,  there  being  several  fertile  plan 
tations  in  one  settlement,  he  was  well  supplied  with 
provisions  and  forage.  Marion  received  with  joy  Lee's 
officer,  and  furnished  boats,  which  he  kept  concealed 
on  the  Pedee,  for  the  transportation  of  the  corps  across 
the  river.  That  the  meeting  of  these  military  friends 
was  cordial,  we  have  from  various  authority.  They  had 
not  met  since  their  joint  attempt  upon  Georgetown,  and 
were  rejoiced  at  being  again  united  in  the  great  object 
of  wresting  South  Carolina  from  the  British.  The 
letter  from  Gen.  Greene,  inclosing  his  plan  of  opera- 


SIEGE    OF    FORT    WATSON.  113 

tions,  was  delivered  by  Lee  to  Marion.  The  evening 
was  devoted  to  repose,  and  on  the  next  day  the  two 
corps  quitted  the  dark  and  marshy  recesses  of  the 
swamp,  for  the  execution  of  the  trust  confided  to  them. 

Determined  to  carry  Fort  Watson  without  delay,  on 
the  15th  of  April,  Marion,  with  Lee,  sat  down  before  it. 
Marion  commanded  the  place  to  surrender,  but  was 
answered  by  a  haughty  defiance  from  Cap.  M'Koy,  the 
commandant.  The  fort  was  an  Indian  mound,  gene 
rally  supposed  to  have  been  the  burial-place,  at  some 
remote  period,  of  the  aborigines  inhabiting  that  region  ; 
it  was  at  least  thirty  feet  high,  and  surrounded  by 
table  land. 

Marion,  from  information  he  had  received,  did  not 
doubt  but  the  garrison  would  soon  be  compelled  to  ca 
pitulate  for  want  of  water,  with  which  it  was  supplied 
from  an  adjacent  lake,  ahd  from  which  it  was  now  in 
his  power  to  effectually  seclude  it.  Cap.  M'Koy,  the 
commandant,  saw  at  once  his  inevitable  fate,  unless  he 
could  devise  some  other  mode  of  procuring  water,  for 
which  purpose  he  sunk  a  well  within  the  fort,  and  baf 
fled  Marion's  expectation  upon  this  point. 

Destitute  both  of  artillery  and  intrenching  tools, 
Marion  and  Lee  began  to  be  doubtful  of  success,  when 
Major  Mayham,  one  of  the  brigade,  suggested  a  plan, 
which  was  no  sooner  communicated  than  adopted.  He 
proposed  to  cut  down  a  number  of  trees,  and  with 
them,  piled  crosswise,  one  above  the  other,  to  raise  a 
tower  sufficiently  high  to  overlook  the  enemy's  breast 
work  ;  this  tower  to  be  covered  at  the  top  with  a  floor 
of  logs  to  stand  upon  ;  and  protected  on  the  side  op 
posite  the  fort  with  a  defence  of  light  timber.  Dragoons 
were  immediately  despatched  to  the  neighboring  farms 
for  axes,  the  only  necessary  tool,  of  which  a  sufficient 
10* 


114  MARION    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

number  being  soon  collected,  relays  of  working  parties 
were  allotted  for  the  labor ;  some  to  cut,  some  to  con 
vey,  and  some  to  erect. 

Major  Mayham  undertook  the  execution  of  his  plan, 
which  was  completely  finished  before  the  morning  of 
the  23rd,  presenting  to  the  eyes  of  the  besieged  a  lofty 
tower  of  an  elevation  higher  than  their  fort.  The  be 
sieged,  like  the  besiegers,  were  unprovided  with  artil 
lery,  arid  could  not  interrupt  the  progress  of  the  work. 

A  party  of  riflemen,  being  ready,  took  post  in  the 
wooden  tower  the  moment  it  was  completed  ;  and  a 
detachment  of  musketry,  under  cover  of  the  riflemen, 
moved  to  make  a  lodgment  in  the  enemy's  ditch,  sup 
ported  by  Lee,s  legion  with  fixed  bayonets.  Such  was 
the  eminence  of  the  tower,  the  riflemen  fired  into  every 
part  of  the  fort,  and  Cap.  M'Koy,  finding  every  re 
source  cut  off,  hung  out  the  white  flag.  It  was  fol 
lowed  by  a  proposal  to  surrender,  which  resulted  in 
capitulation.  Marion  despatched  an  official  letter  to 
Gen.  Greene,  dated  the  same  day,  (April  23.  1781,) 
detailing  the  manner  in  which  the  fort  was  taken ;  en 
closing  a  list  of  the  prisoners  and  stores  taken,  and 
announcing  his  determination  of  marching  to  the  High 
Hills  of  Santee,  there  to  await  his  orders.  The  num 
ber  of  prisoners  taken  were  114.  In  the  course  of  the 
following  day  they  were  brought  to  the  camp  of  Greene. 

Camden  was  defended  by  Lord  Rawdon  with  about 
900  men,  and  already  straitened  for  provisions,  and 
despairing  of  succor,  he  resolved  to  risk  a  battle. 
Giving  orders  for  his  troops  to  make  ready,  he  ad 
vanced  at  9  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  25th  April, 
and,  avoiding  the  direct  approach  to  the  American 
camp,  he  took  a  circuitous  course,  along  the  margin  of 
the  swamp  which  lines  Pine-tree-creek,  and  winds  with 
its  meanders. 


BATTLE    OF    CAMDEN.  117 

The  Americans  were  most  of  them  cooking  their  vic 
tuals,*  and  Greene  was  at  breakfast,  when  some  of  the 
advance  sentinels,  half  a  mile  in  front  of  the  camp,  fired 
upon  the  van  of  the  British.  The  American  army, 
notwithstanding  its  short  notice,  was  quickly  ranged  for 
action.  All  the  baggage,  as  is  customary  in  general 
actions,  was  ordered  off.  The  cavalry,  which  was  un 
saddled  and  feeding  on  the  first  alarm,  was  quickly 
ready ;  and  so  certain  was  Greene  of  success,  he  ordered 
Lieut.  Col.  Washington  to  turn  the  right  flank  of  the 
British,  and  to  charge  in  their  rear.  By  this  time  the 
fire  between  the  British  van,  and  the  American  light- 
infantry  pickets  became  very  lively.  Greene  in  per 
son  led  on  two  Virginia  regiments.  The  artillery  were 
well  posted  and  doing  great  execution,  and  a  small  body 
of  militia  was  coming  into  action,  when  suddenly  a 
number  of  the  Americans  began  to  retire,  though  the 
danger  was  not  apparently  great,  and  every  body 
seemed  ignorant  of  the  cause.  Col.  Washington,  in 
the  execution  of  the  order  given  him,  had  at  one  time 
possessed  himself  of  near  200  prisoners;  but  he  relin 
quished  the  greatest  part  on  seeing  the  army  retire. 
The  officers  he  paroled  on  the  field  of  battle  ;  and  then 
collecting  his  men,  wheeled  round,  made  his  own  re 
treat  good,  carrying  off  with  him  fifty  prisoners.  The 
fortune  of  the  day  was  irretrievable,  but  Greene,  with 
his  usual  firmness,  instantly  took  measures  to  prevent 
Rawdon  improving  the  success  he  had  obtained.  The 

*  In  the  morning  Carrington  joined,  with  a  comfortable  supply 
of  provisions,  which  had  been  rather  scarce  during  the  late  hurried 
changes  of  position.  These  were  issued,  and  of  course  engaged  a 
portion  of  the  troops ;  'while  the  residue  were  employed  along  the 
rivulets  in  washing  their  clothes,  an  occupation  which  had  been  for 
some  days  past  impracticable.  Lee' s  Memoirs  of  the  Southern  War. 


118  MARION   AND    HIS    TIMES. 

retreat  was  effected  with  such  good  order  and  delibera 
tion,  that  most  of  the  American  wounded,  all  their  artil 
lery  and  baggage  were  safely  carried  off,  together  with 
six  royal  commissioned  officers,  beside  Col.  Washing 
ton's  prisoners.  The  action  was  continued  with  inter 
vals  till  about  four  in  the  afternoon,  and  till  the  Amer 
icans  had  retreated  about  four  miles ;  when  a  detach 
ment  of  the  infantry  and  cavalry  under  Col.  Washing 
ton  were  ordered  to  advance  and  annoy  the  British. 
The  British  retired  to  Camden ;  the  Americans  en 
camped  about  five  miles  from  their  former  position. 
The  field  of  battle  was  occupied  only  by  the  dead. 

Very  soon  after  the  action,  Greene,  knowing  that 
the  British  garrison  could  not  subsist  long  in  Camden 
without  fresh  supplies  from  Charleston  or  the  country, 
detached  a  reinforcement  to  Marion,  on  the  road  to 
Nelson's  ferry  ;  and  on  the  3rd  of  May  he  crossed  the 
Wateree,  and  took  occasionally  such  positions  as  would 
most  effectually  prevent  succors  from  going  into  the 
town  from  that  quarter.  On  the  7th  of  May,  Lord 
Rawdon  received  a  considerable  reinforcement  under 
Col.  Watson.  With  this  increase  of  strength,  he  at 
tempted  the  next  day  to  compel  Gen.  Greene  to  another 
action,  but  found  it  impracticable.  Failing  in  his  design 
he  returned  to  Camden,  and  on  the  10th  burned  the 
jail,  mills,  many  private  houses,  and  a  great  part  of 
his  own  baggage.  He  then  evacuated  his  post,  and 
retired  with  his  whole  army  south  of  the  Santee,  leav 
ing  about  thirty  of  his  sick  and  wounded,  and  as  many 
of  the  Americans,  taken  in  the  recent  action.  He  offered 
every  assistance  in  his  power  to  the  friends  of  the 
British  government  who  would  accompany  him.  Seve 
ral  families  accepted  his  offer,  but  were  cruelly  neglected 
after  their  arrival  at  Charleston. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Evacuation  of  Camden — surrender  of  the  garrison  at 
Orangeburg.  Marion  beseiges  Fort  Motte — anecdote 
of  Mrs.  Motte — the  roof  of  her  mansion  fired  by  ar 
rows — surrender  of  the  fort.  Marion  rapidly  follows 
up  his  successes —  Georgetown  surrenders  to  him.  Ma 
rion  and  Sumpter  dispersing  the  lories.  The  seige 
of  Ninety  Six  ;  the  seige  is  abandoned.  Greene  offers 
battle  to  Lord  Rawdon.  Marion  and  Lee  drive  Col. 
Coates  from  Monk's  corner — gallant  pursuit  of  the 
British — battle  of  Quinby  bridge — Col.  Armstrong — 
fifty  of  the  brigade  killed.  The  execution  of  Col. 
Hayne.  Marion  defeats  the  British  at  Parker's  ferry. 

-   Battle  of  Eutaw  Springs. 

THE  evacuation  of  Camden  animated  the  friends  of 
patriotism,  and  daily  increased  their  numbers,  while 
the  British  posts  fell  in  quick  succession.  The  day 
after  the  evacution,  the  garrison  of  Orangeburg  consist 
ing  of  70  British  militia,  and  12  regulars,  surrendered 
to  Gen.  Sumpter. 

Marion  and  Lee,  after  the  capture  of  Fort  Watson, 
crossed  the  Santee,  and  moved  up  to  the  siege  of  Fort 
Motte.  This  post  was  the  principal  depot  of  the  con 
voys  from  Charleston  to  Camden.  A  large  new  man 
sion  house,  belonging  to  Mrs.  Motte,  situated  on  a  high 
and  commanding  hill,  had  been  selected  by  the  British. 
It  was  surrounded  by  a  deep  trench,  along  the  interior 
margin  of  which  was  raised  a  strong  and  lofty  parapet. 
To  this  post  had  been  regularly  assigned  an  adequate 
garrison  of  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  men,  which 
was  now  accidentally  increased  by  a  small  detachment 

119 


120  MARION    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

of  dragoons, — which  had  arrived  from  Charleston,  a 
few  hours  before  the  appearance  of  the  American  troops, 
on  its  way  to  Camden,  with  despatches  to  Lord  Raw- 
don.  The  fort  was  commanded  by  Cap.  M'Pherson, 
with  a  garrison  of  165  men. 

Opposite  Fort  Motte,  to  the  north,  stood  another  hill, 
where  Mrs.  Motte  having  been  dismissed  from  her 
mansion,  resided  in  an  old  farm  house.  On  this  height, 
Col.  Lee,  with  his  corps,  took  post,  while  Marion  and 
his  brigade  occupied  the  eastern  declivity  of  the  ridge 
on  which  the  fort  stood.  Very  soon  the  fort  was  com 
pletely  invested  ;  and  a  six  pounder  was  mounted  on  a 
battery  erected  in  Marion's  quarter  for  the  purpose  of 
raking  the  northern  face  of  the  enemy's  parapet,  against 
which  Lee  was  preparing  to  advance.  M'Pherson  was 
unprovided  with  artillery,  and  depended  for  safety  upon 
timely  relief,  not  doubting  its  arrival  before  the  assail 
ant  could  push  his  preparations  to  maturity. 

The  vale  running  between  the  two  hills  admitted  a 
safe  approach  for  the  Americans  to  within  four  hundred 
yards  of  Fort  Motte.  This  place  was  selected  to  break 
ground.  Relays  of  working  parties  being  provided  for 
every  four  hours,  and  Marion  having  persuaded  some 
of  the  negroes  from  the  neighboring  plantations  to  as 
sist,  the  works  advanced  with  rapidity.  It  was  on  the 
8th  of  May,  the  Americans  set  down  before  the  fort, 
and  such  was  the  forwardness  of  their  works  on  the 
10th,  that  it  was  determined  to  summon  M'Pherson  to 
surrender. 

A  flag  was  accordingly  despatched  to  the  comman 
dant  ;  he  replied,  that,  disregarding  consequences,  he 
should  continue  to  resist  to  the  last  moment  in  his 
power.  The  retreat  of  Rawdon  was  known  in  the 
evening  to  the  besiegers ;  and  in  the  course  of  the  night 


COL.    LEE    AND    MRS.    MOTTE.  121 

a  courier  arrived  from  Gen.  Greene  confirming  that 
event,  urging  redoubled  activity,  and  communicating 
his  determination  to  hasten  to  their  support.  Urged  by 
these  strong  considerations,  Marion  and  Lee  persevered 
throughout  the  night  in  pressing  the  completion  of  the 
works.  On  the  next  day,  Rawdon  reached  the  country 
opposite  Fort  Motte ;  and  in  the  succeeding  night,  en 
camping  on  the  highest  ground  in  his  route,  the  illumi 
nation  of  his  fires  gave  the  joyful  annunciation  of  his 
approach  to  the  despairing  garrison.  But  the  hour  was 
close  at  hand  to  convert  this  joy  into  sadness. 

The  large  mansion  of  Mrs.  Motte  in  the  centre  of 
the  surrounding  trench,  left  but  a  few  yards  of  the 
grounds  within  the  fort  uncovered,  and  burning  the 
house  must  force  the  garrison  to  surrender.  The  ex. 
pedient  of  setting  fire  to  the  roof  by  shooting  arrows 
upon  it,  was  the  plan  suggested  by  Marion,  and  orders 
were  instantly  issued  to  prepare  bows  and  arrows 
with  combustible  matter. 

The  devoted  house  was  a  large  pleasant  edifice,  in 
tended  for  the  summer  residence  of  the  respectable 
owner,  whose  deceased  husband  had  been  a  firm  friend 
to  his  oppressed  country.  Dearly  was  Mrs.  Motte  be 
loved  by  the  Americans,  and  it  was  with  somewhat  of 
reluctance  they  adopted  the  measure.  Nevertheless, 
the  imperative  obligations  of  duty  must  be  obeyed  ;  the 
house  must  burn ;  and  a  respectful  communication  to 
the  lady  of  her  destined  loss  must  be  made.  The  next 
morning,  Col.  Lee  imparted  to  Mrs.  Motte  the  intended 
measure ;  lamenting  the  sad  necessity,  and  assuring 
her  of  the  deep  regret  which  the  unavoidable  act  ex 
cited  in  his  own  breast  and  that  of  those  under  his 
command. 

With  a  smile  of  complacency,  this  exemplary  lady 
11 


122  MARION    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

listened  to  the  embarrassed  officer,  and  gave  instant  re 
lief  to  his  agitated  feelings,  by  declaring  that  she  was 
gratified  with  the  opportunity  of  contributing  to  the 
good  of  her  country,  and  that  she  would  view  the  ap 
proaching  scene  with  delight.  Learning  the  manner 
in  which  it  was  intended  to  set  the  house  on  fire,  she 
brought  forward  a  bow  and  arrows,  imported  from  Af 
rica,  that  happened  to  be  in  her  possession,  requesting 
their  substitution,  as  probably  better  adapted  for  the 
object  than  those  already  provided. 

The  lines  were  now  manned,  and  an  additional  force 
stationed  at  the  battery,  lest  the  enemy,  perceiving  his 
fate,  might  determine  to  risk  a  desperate  assault,  as 
offering  the  only  chance  of  relief.  As  soon  as  the 
troops  reached  their  several  points,  a  flag  was  again 
sent  to  M'Pherson,  for  the  purpose  of  inducing  him  to 
prevent  the  conflagration  and  slaughter  which  else 
must  ensue.  But  the  British  captain  remained  immove- 
able,  repeating  his  determination  of  holding  out  to  the 
last. 

It  was  now  about  noon,  and  the  scorching  rays  of 
the  sun  had  prepared  the  shingles  of  the  roof  for  con 
flagration.  The  bow  and  arrows  were  put  into  the 
hands  of  a  strong-armed  member  of  Marion's  brigade. 
He  drew  the  bow,  and  an  arrow  flew,  striking  the 
roof,  and  three  of  the  shots  communicated  fire  to  the 
shingles,  quickly  kindling  it  into  a  blaze.  M'Pherson 
ordered  a  party  to  repair  to  the  roof  of  the  house,  and 
by  knocking  off  the  shingles  to  stop  the  flames.  As 
soon  as  this  was  perceived,  the  fire  of  the  six-pounder 
was  brought  to  bear  upon  them,  and  they  were  soon 
driven  down  ;  and  no  other  effort,  to  stop  the  flames 
being  practicable,  M'Pherson  hung  out  the  white  flag. 


SHIVEES1T7 


SIEGE    OF   NINETY-SIX.  125 

Mercy  was  extended,  although  policy  commanded 
death.* 

Two  days  after  this  surrender,  the  British  evacuated 
their  post  at  Nelson's  ferry — blew  up  their  fortifica 
tions — and  destroyed  a  great  part  of  their  stores.  The 
day  following,  Fort  Granby,  about  thirty  miles  to  the 
westward  of  Fort  Motte,  surrendered  by  capitulation, 
and  352  men,  a  great  part  of  them  Tories,  were  taken 
prisoners.  On  the  21st  of  May,  the  British  post  at 
Silver  Bluff,  called  Fort  Dreadnaught,  surrendered  to 
a  detachment  of  Americans^;  prisoners,  and  a  large 
quantity  of  stores  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  captors. 

Marion  now  proceeded  against  Georgetown ;  post 
after  post  of  the  British  had  successively  yielded,  and 
Gen.  Greene  was  now  ready  to  advance  upon  Ninety 
Six,  the  only  remaining  fortress  in  the  State,  besides 
Charleston,  in  the  enemy's  possession.  Marion's  ap 
pearance  before  Georgetown  was  early  in  June,  and  the 
garrison,  after  merely  a  feint  of  resistance,  fled  to  their 
galleys.  Marion  secured  the  stores,  demolished  the 
works,  and  retired. 

Ninety-six  was  strongly  garrisoned  by  the  British, 
under  Col.  Cruger  of  New  York,  and,  assiduous  as 
were  the  exertions  of  Gen.  Greene,  he  was  unsuccess 
ful  in  his  attempt  to  reduce  it.  Lord  Rawdon,  with  a 
reinforcement  of  troops  from  Ireland,  marched  from 
Charleston  and  relieved  it,  compelling  Greene  to  re 
treat. 

The  following  is  an  account  of  this  siege  as  4escribed 
by  Ramsay,  in  his  Hist,  of  South  Carolina,  vol.  2.  page 
423,  "  Greene  proceeded  with  the  main  army  to  Ninety- 
Six.  This  place,  being  of  great  consequence,  was  de- 

*  Lee's  Memoirs. 
11* 


126  MARION    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

fended  by  a  considerable  force.  Lieut.  Col.  Cruger 
conducted  the  defence  with  great  bravery  and  judg 
ment.  On  the  left  of  the  besiegers  was  a  work  erected 
in  the  form  of  a  star  ;  on  the  right  was  a  strong  stock 
ade-fort,  with  two  block-houses  in  it.  The  town,  flanked 
by  these  two  works,  was  also  picquetted  with  strong 
picquets,  and  surrounded  with  a  ditch,  and  a  bank  near 
the  height  of  a  common  parapet.  There  were  also 
several  flushes  in  several  parts  of  the  town,  and  all  the 
works  communicated  with  each  other  by  covered  ways. 

"  On  the  23rd  of  May,  1781,  the  main  body  of  the 
American  army  encamped  in  a  wood,  within  half  a 
mile  of  Ninety-Six ;  and,  on  that  night,  threw  up  two 
flushes  within  a  hundred  and  fifty  yards  of  the  star 
fort.  The  next  morning  the  enemy  made  a  sally,  and, 
being  supported  by  the  artillery  and  musketry  from  the 
parapet  of  the  star  redoubt,  drove  the  besiegers  from 
them.  The  next  night  two  strong  block  batteries  were 
erected  at  the  distance  of  three  hundred  and  fifty  yards, 
which  were  opened  in  the  morning.  Another  battery 
twenty  feet  high,  erected  within  two  hundred  and 
twenty  yards,  was  finished  within  a  few  days ;  and 
soon  afterwards  another  of  the  same  height  was  erect 
ed  within  a  hundred  yards  of  the  same  fort. 

"  Approaches  were  gradually  carried  on  against  the 
redoubt  on  the  left.  Col.  Kosciusko,  a  young  gentle 
man  of  distinction  from  Poland,*  superintended  the 

*  Thaddeus  Kosciusko,  a  Polish  general  and  patriot,  was  born 
in  1746,  in  Lithuania.  When  the  American  colonies  threw  off 
the  yoke  of  the  Mother  Country,  Kosciusko  entered  into  their 
service  and  was  made  a  colonel  of  engineers  and  aid-de-camp  to 
Washington.  After  the  Independence  of  America,  he  returned 
to  his  native  country  and  took  an  active  part  in  her  struggles. 
After  the  fall  of  Poland  he  was  imprisoned  in  St.  Petersburg  un 
til  the  accession  of  the  Czar  Paul,  who  liberated  him.  The  re- 


THE    BRITISH    REINFORCED.  127 

operations  of  the  besiegers,  and  by  his  assiduity,  though 
the  ground  was  hard  and  the  situation  unfavorable,  a 
third  parallel  within  thirty  yards  of  the  ditch  was  com 
pleted  on  May  14th  ;  and  a  rifle-battery,  upwards  of 
thirty  feet  high,  erected  at  the  same  distance.  On  the 
17th,  the  abbatis  was  turned,  and  two  trenches  and  a 
mine  were  extended  so  as  to  be  within  six  feet  of  the 
ditch.  Few  sieges  afford  greater  instances  of  perseve 
rance  and  intrepidity,  than  were  exhibited  on  this 
occasion  by  the  besiegers  and  besieged.  Riflemen  were 
employed  on  both  sides,  who  immediately  levelled  at 
every  person  who  appeared  in  sight,  and  very  seldom 
missed  their  object.  Various  success  attended  the  con 
flicts  between  the  several  covering  parties  of  the 
workmen,  and  those  who  repeatedly  sallied  from  the 
garrison. 

"  On  the  3rd  of  June,  twelve  days  after  the  com 
mencement  of  this  siege,  a  fleet  arrived  at  Charleston 
from  Ireland,  having  on  board,  the  3rd,  19th  and  30th 
regiments  of  his  Britannic  Majesty,  a  detachment  from 
the  guards,  and  a  considerable  body  of  recruits,  the 
whole  commanded  by  Lieut.  Col.  Gould.  Earl  Corn- 
wallis  had  given  permission  to  the  commanders  of  the 
British  forces  in  South  Carolina,  to  detain  these  rein 
forcements  if  they  conceived  that  the  service  of  his 
Britannic  Majesty  required  it ;  otherwise  they  were  to 
be  sent  forward  to  join  his  lordship.  On  the  7th  of 
June,  Lord  Rawdon  marched  from  Charleston,  with 
these  newly  arrived  troops,  for  the  relief  of  the  gar 
rison  at  Ninety-Six.  Great  were  the  difficulties  they 


maining  part  of  his  existence  was  spent  in  America,  France  and 
Switzerland,  but  chiefly  in  France.  He  died  at  Soleure,  Oct. 
17.  1817. — Biographical  Dictionary. 


128  MARION    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

had  to  encounter  in  rapidly  marching  under  the  rage 
of  a  burning  sun  through  the  whole  extent  of  South 
Carolina. 

"  The  American  army  had  advanced  their  approach 
es  very  near  the  critical  point,  after  which  further  re 
sistance  on  the  part  of  the  garrison  would  have  been 
temerity.  At  this  interesting  moment,  intelligence  was 
received  that  Lord  Rawdon  was  near  at  hand.  An 
American  lady,  who  had  lately  married  a  British  officer 
then  in  the  British  garrison  at  Ninety-Six,  had  been 
bribed  by  a  large  sum  of  money  to  convey  a  letter  to 
Col.  Cruger  with  the  news  of  the  approaching  relief. 
The  vicinity  of  this  large  force  made  it  necessary  for 
the  Americans  either  to  raise  the  siege,  or  attempt  the 
reduction  of  the  place  by  a  coup-de-main.  This  last 
was  agreed. upon,  and  the  necessary  dispositions  were 
made  on  the  18th  of  June.  Col.  Lee,  with  his  legion 
of  infantry,  and  Cap.  Kirkwood's  light  infantry,  made 
the  attack  on  the  right.  Col.  Campbell,  with  the  first 
Maryland  and  first  Virginia  regiments,  were  to  have 
stormed  the  redoubt,  the  ditch  of  which  was  eight  or 
nine  feet  deep,  the  parapet  eleven  or  twelve  feet  high, 
and  raised  with  sand-bags  near  three  more. 

"  The  forlorn-hopes  were  led  on  by  lieutenants  Du- 
val  and  Sheldon,  and  were  followed  by  a  party  with 
hooks  and  intrenching  tools,  to  pull  down  the  sand-bags 
and  reduce  the  parapet.  Had  this  been  effected,  the 
beseiged  could  not  have  annoyed  the  assailants  without 
exposing  themselves  to  the  American  marksmen.  The 
artillery  soon  made  sufficient  breaches  bn  the  fortified 
redoubt  on  the  right,  for  the  infantry  under  the  com 
mand  of  Col.  Lee  to  assault  the  garrison.  It  was 
therefore  abandoned,  and  the  Americans  took  posses 
sion  without  loss.  The  parties,  led  by  Duval  and  Shel- 


CAPTURE    OF    BRITISH    DRAGO    fJS.  129 

don  entered  the  ditch,  and,  though  galle  J  by  an  inces 
sant  fire,  made  every  effort  to  get  down  the  sand-bags. 
Both  these  gallant  officers  were  wounded,  and  not 
more  than  one  in  six  of  their  party  escaped. 

"  The  near  approach  of  lord  Rawdon,  and  the  uncer 
tainty  of  final  success,  induced  Greene  to  raise  the 
siege,  and  retreat  over  the  Saluda  ;  after  having  lost 
about  one  hundred  and  fifty  men." 

It  was  a  mortifying  circumstance  to  the  Americans, 
to  be  obliged  to  abandon  the  siege  when  in  the  grasp 
of  victory.  On  this  sudden  turn  of  affairs,  Greene 
was  advised  by  some  persons  to  leave  tne  state,  and 
retire  with  his  remaining  force  to  Virginia.  To  such 
suggestions  he  nobly  answered — "  I  will  recover  the 
country,  or  die  in  the  attempt." 

On  the  20th  of  June,  the  American  army  crossed 
the  Saluda,  and  retired  towards  Broad  River.  They 
reached  the  Enoree  on  the  24th.  Thus  far  Lord  Raw 
don  pursued  them;  when  finding  it  impossible  to  over 
take  them,  he  faced  about  and  returned.  He  consoled 
himself  with  the  imaginary  advantage  of  having  driven 
the  rebels  out  of  the  country,  supposing  they  had  gone 
to  North  Carolina  or  Virginia.  But  Greene  halted  and 
refreshed  his  army  ;  and,  being  informed  that  Raw 
don,  with  about  half  his  army,  was  marching  to  the 
Congaree,  all  the  effective  infantry  marched  by  way  of 
Winnsboro,  to  encounter  the  British.  The  -cavalry 
was  previously  detached  to  watch  the  motions  of  Raw 
don,  and  did  it  so  effectually,  that  a  part  of  them 
charged  and  took  a  captain,  a  lieutenant,  a  cornet,  and 
forty-five  privates  of  British  dragoons,  with  all  the 
horses  and  accoutrements,  one  mile  from  their  en 
campment. 

In  the  meantime,'  Marion  and  Sampler  were  follow. 


130  MARION   AND  HIS  TIMES. 

ing  up  their  success  in  dispersing  the  Tories  wherever 
they  got  information  of  their  gatherings.  On  the  12th 
of  July,  Gen.  Greene,  having  called  in  the  militia  un 
der  Marion  and  Sumpter,  and  attaching  them  to  the 
Continentals,  offered  Lord  Rawdon  battle.  But  his 
lordship,  secure  in  his  strong  position  at  Orangeburg, 
would  not  venture  out,  and  Greene  was  too  weak  to 
attack  him  with  any  prospect  of  success.  Greene  now 
detached  the  cavalry  of  the  legion,  the  state  troops, 
and  the  militia,  to  make  a  diversion  towards  Charles 
ton,  and  the  rest  of  the  army  was  ordered  to  the  High 
Hills  of  Santee.  Sumpter  was  placed  in  command  of 
this  detachment,  with  Lee,  Marion,  Taylor,  Horry, 
Mayham,  Hampton,  and  others,  acting  under  him. 
This  detachment  was  sent  off  to  Monk's  Corner,  and 
Dorchester,  and  moved  by  different  roads  to  the  scene 
of  operations. 

Col.  Lee  broke  up  the  post  at  Dorchester,  and  inter 
cepted  and  captured  all  the  wagons  and  horses  belong 
ing  to  a  convoy  of  provisions,  on  its  way  to  the  Bri 
tish.  Col.  Wade  Hampton,  with  the  state  cavalry, 
pressed  on  to  within  five  miles  of  Charleston,  fell  in 
with  some  mounted  Refugees,  dispersed  the  whole,  and 
made  forty  or  fifty  prisoners.  He  also  took  fifty  pri 
soners  at  Strawberry  Ferry,  and  burned  four  vessels 
loaded  with  valuable  stores  for  the  British  army. 
Sumpter  and  Marion  hastened  towards  Monk's  Cor 
ner,  where  lay  the  19th  regiment  of  the  British,  com 
manded  by  Col.  Coates,  with  a  garrison  of  500  infan 
try,  and  upwards  of  100  cavalry,  at  Biggen's  church, 
about  a  mile  distant.  Sumpter  and  Marion  arrived 
before  this  post  on  the  same  day,  and  Col.  Lee,  having 
called  in  his  parties,  followed  on  the  subsequent  morn 
ing.  Lee  expected  Sumpter  would  have  seized  the 


BATTLE  OF  QUINBY  BRIDGE.         133 

bridge  over  Cooper  river,  near  Monk's  Corner,  which 
afforded  a  direct  route  to  the  militia  camp.  But  Col. 
Coates,  the  British  commander,  had  very  prudently 
occupied  the  bridge  with  a  detachment  from  his  regi 
ment,  compelling  Lee  to  take  a  very  circuitous  route 
through  deep  sands,  in  the  heat  of  July,  to  reach 
Sumpter,  then  ready  with  Marion  to  fall  upon  the 
enemy  as  soon  as  the  desired  junction  should  take 
place.  The  next  morning  the  enemy  were  to  be  as 
saulted,  but  during  the  night  Coates  decamped,  setting 
fire  to  the  church  which  had  been  used  by  him  as  a 
magazine  and  fortress,  and  where  a  great  quantity  of 
stores  were  accumulated.  These  stores  Coates  did  not 
choose  to  leave  for  the  accommodation  of  the  Ameri 
cans,  and  at  about  midnight  the  latter  descried  from 
their  camp  the  roof  of  the  building  on  fire. 

Pursuit  of  the  British  was  immediately  commenced, 
led  on  by  Lee's  legion  and  Hampton's  state  cavalry. 
Lee  came  up  with  a  part  of  the  enemy  near  Quinby 
bridge.  With  this  body  of  men  was  the  greater  part 
of  the  baggage  of  the  British  army.  The  Americans 
charged  upon  them  furiously,  and  so  terrified  were  they 
that  they  threw  down  their  arms,  and  begged  for  quar 
ters.  The  cavalry,  leaving  the  captured  in  care  of  a 
few  militia,  pressed  on  for  Quinby  bridge,  and  Captain 
Armstrong,  with  the  leading  section,  first  came  in  sight 
of  Coates,  who,  having  passed  the  bridge,  was  care 
lessly  reposing,  waiting  for  his  rear  guard,  which  had 
been  captured,  having  determined  to  destroy  the  bridge 
as  soon  as  it  and  his  baggage  should  have  passed  it. 
Already  he  had  raised  the  planks  from  the  sleepers, 
lying  them  on  loosely,  ready  to  be  thrown  into  the 
stream  when  the  rear  should  get  over. 

Armstrong  put  spur  to  his  horse,  and  at  the  head 
12 


134  MARION    AND    HIS   TIMES. 

of  his  section  dashed  over  the  bridge  in  face  of  the  en  • 
emy,  throwing  himself  upon  the  guard  stationed  there 
with  a  howitzer.  So  sudden  was  this  charge,  he  drove 
all  before  him — the  guard  abandoning  their  piece. 
Some  of  the  loose  planks  were  dashed  off  by  Arm 
strong's  section,  which,  forming  a  chasm  in  the  bridge, 
presented  a  dangerous  obstacle.  Nevertheless  the 
second  section,  headed  by  Lieut.  Carrington,  took  the 
leap  and  closed  with  Armstrong.  Cap.  O'Neal,  with 
the  third  section,  cowardly  halted.  The  bridge  was 
densely  crowded,  and  plank  after  plank  sliding  from  the 
bridge  into  the  stream.  The  creek  was  deep  in  water 
and  deeper  in  mud,  so  that  the  dragoons,  who  had  dis 
mounted  for  the  purpose  of  replacing  the  planks,  could 
not  get  a  foothold  to  stand  upon ;  nor  was  it  possible  to 
find  any  firm  ground  from  which  to  swim  the  horses 
across. 

In  this  perplexing  condition,  the  victory  gained  by 
the  gallantry  of  Armstrong  and  Carrington  was  wrested 
from  them,  when  to  complete  it  only  a  passage  across 
the  creek,  not  twenty  yards  wide,  was  wanting.  The 
British,  discerning  the  state  of  matters,  took  courage 
and  rallied.  Armstrong  and  Carrington,  saw  them 
selves  unsupported,  and  were  compelled  to  abandon  the 
unequal  contest.  They  forced  their  way  down  the  road, 
turning  into  the  woods  up  the  stream  to  rejoin  the  corps. 
Col.  Lee  continued  struggling  to  replace  the  planks, 
until  Coates,  relieved  from  Armstrong,  repaired  with 
the  few  around  him  to  defend  the  bridge,  where  re 
mained  his  deserted  howitzer.  The  most  of  his  men 
had  fled  from  the  field — Coates  himself,  with  a  few 
others,  had  gallantly  defended  himself  at  the  side  of  a 
wagon,  effectually  parrying  the  many  sabre  strokes 
aimed  at  his  head.  Col.  Lee,  having  only  sabres  to 


DESTRUCTION    AMONG    THE    BRIGADE.  135 

oppose  the  enemy's  fire,  and  those  sabres  withheld 
from  contact  by  the  interposing  chasm,  was  forced  to 
draw  off  from  the  vain  contest,  after  several  of  his  dra 
goons  had  been  wounded'. 

As  soon  as  he  had  reached  the  enemy,  Lee  des 
patched  the  intelligence  to  Marion,  urging  his  approach  ; 
and  now  foiled  at  the  bridge,  he  communicated  to  Ma 
rion  his  having  moved  some  distance  up  the  creek  to 
a  ford.  Marion  pressed  his  march  with  diligence, 
bringing  with  him  the  legion-infantry ;  and  having 
passed  the  creek,  united  with  Lee  in  the  afternoon. 
By  this  time  the  British,  after  destroying  the  bridge, 
had  advantageously  posted  themselves  in  the  house  and 
negro  huts  of  a  plantation.  An  attack,  however,  was 
made,  the  post  of  danger  being  taken  by  Marion  and 
his  brigade,  who  followed  it  up  for  three  hours.  The 
British  were  too  securely  posted  to  be  dislodged,  and 
their  fire  from  the  houses  was  severely  destructive 
among  the  ranks  of  Marion,  of  whom  between  forty 
and  fifty  were  killed.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  was 
seventy. 

About  this  time  Lord  Rawdon,  leaving  Lieut.  Col. 
Stewart  in  command  at  Orangeburg,  sailed  for  New- 
York,  and  from  there  to  Europe.  Stewart  did  not  es 
tablish  a  post,  as  was  expected,  at  Orangeburg,  but, 
moving  his  whole  force  towards  the  Santee,  sat  down 
near  the  confluence  of  its  two  branches,  about  fifteen 
miles  from  the  American  army,  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  river. 

That  we  may  form  a  clearer  conception  of  the 
miseries  attending  this  war  in  South  Carolina,  we  have 
before  us  copies  of  letters  transmitted  to  different  per- 


138  MARION    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

clause  which  required  him  to  bear  arms  in  support  of 
the  royal  government.  The  commandant  of  the  gar 
rison,  Brig  Gen.  Paterson,  and  James  Simpson  Esqr, 
intendant  of  the  British  police,  assured  him  that  this 
would  never  be  required  ;  and  added  further  that  when 
the  regular  forces  could  not  defend  the  country  without 
the  aid  of  its  inhabitants,  it  would  be  high  time  for  the 
royal  army  to  quit  it. 

Having  submitted  to  the  royal  government,  he  was 
permitted  to  return  to  his  family,  happy  in  the  expec 
tation  of  preserving  it  through  the  prevailing  pestilence. 
But  in  this  hope  he  was  sorely  disappointed ;  his  wife 
and  two  children  fell  victims  to  the  fatal  malady. 
These  afflictions  were  augmented  by  the  fact  that  the 
British  authorities,  in  violation  of  their  contract  with 
him,  repeatedly  called  upon  him  to  take  up  arms 
against  his  countrymen,  and  finally  threatened  him  with 
close  confinement  if  he  did  not  comply. 

In  this  situation  Hayne  was  found  when  Greene  forced 
the  enemy  from  the  upper  country.  A  detachment  of 
Marion's  militia,  under  Col.  Harden,  passing  to  the  west 
of  the  Edisto  for  the  protection  of  their  homes,  reached 
the  neighborhood  of  Hayne.  They  solicited  his  co 
operation.  The  success  of  their  cause  was  the  wish  of 
his  heart  he  said,  but  stated  the  change  in  his  political 
condition,  and  that  he  was  bound  by  his  declaration  of 
allegiance.  Yet  he  assured  them  -that  whenever  he 
found  the  royal  authority  unable  to  afford  its  promised 
protection,  he  should  consider  himself  absolved  from  the 
extorted  allegiance,  and  would  with  joy  enrol  himself 
with  the  defenders  of  his  country. 

Thus  did  Col.  Hayne  scrupulously  adhere  to  a 
contract  which  was  never  obligatory, — having  been 


COLt    HAVNE    AND    Itt'LAUGHLIlV.  139 

coerced  by  the  duress  of  power,  and  in  palpable  violation 
of  the  capitulation  of  Charleston. 

Soon  after  this  occurrence,  the  British  were  driven 
below  the  Edisto,  and  nearly  the  whole  country  there 
fell  under  protection  of  the  American  arms.  Every 
person  in  the  recovered  country  believed  himself  re 
leased  from  the  obligations  imposed  by  the  late  condi 
tion  of  affairs  ;  for  it  was  justly  thought  that  the  allegi 
ance  due  to  a  conqueror  ceased  with  his  expulsion  from 
the  subdued  territory.  Under  this  correct  impression, 
Hayne  and  many  others  repaired  to  the  American  camp. 
His  merit  attracted  immediate  attention,  and  the  militia 
of  his  district  honored  him  with  the  command  of  a  regi 
ment.  He  immediately  took  the  field,  and  conducted 
an  expedition  in  the  enemy's  country.  Some  of  his 
mounted  militia  penetrated  the  neck  of  Charleston,  and, 
near  the  quarter-house,  took  Gren.  Williamson  prisoner. 
This  was  the  same  Williamson  who  was  an  active  offi 
cer  in  the  South  Carolina  militia  from  the  commence 
ment  of  the  war  to  the  surrender  of  Charleston,  after 
which  event  he  became  a  British  subject^  and  was  as 
energetic  in  supporting  the  royal  authority  as  before  he 
had  been  opposed  to  it. 

Such  was  the  anxiety  of  the  British  commandant  to 
rescue  Williamson,  he  ordered  out  his  whole  cavalry  on 
the  business.  This  detachment  fell  suddenly  on  the 
camp  of  Flayne  ;  but  was  handsomely  received  and  re 
pelled  by  Col.  Harden,  who,  owing  to  the  inferiority  of* 
his  force,  did  not  deem  it  prudent  to  push  his  success 
by  pursuit.  Col.  Hayne,  (attended  by  his  second  lieu 
tenant,  Col.  M'Laughlin)  had  unfortunately  gone  to 
breakfast  with  a  friend  about  two  miles  from  camp. 
The  house  was  on  the  Charleston  road,  and  Hayne  was 
unapprized  of  the  enemy's  approach  until  he  saw  them 


136  MARION   AND    HIS    TIMES* 

sons  from  Gen.  Greene  at  this  period,  The  following 
are  extracts — "  The  animosity  of  the  Whigs  and  Tories 
of  this  state,  renders  their  situation  truly  deplorable. 
There  is  not  a  day  passes,  but  there  are  more  or  less 
who  fall  a  sacrifice  to  this  savage  disposition.  The 
whigs  seem  determined  to  extirpate  the  tories,  and  the 
tories  the  whigs.  Some  thousands  have  fallen  in  this 
way  in  this  quarter,  and  the  evil  rages  with  more 
violence  than  ever.  If  a  stop  cannot  soon  be  put  to 
to  these  massacres,  the  country  will  be  depopulated  in 
a  few  months  more,  as  neither  whig  nor  tory  can  live." 
Among  other  atrocities,  the  murder  of  Col.  Isaac  Hayne 
roused  the  indignation  of  the  Americans,  and  left  a 
deep  disgrace  upon  the  character  of  the  British — a  dis 
grace  so  indelible  that  time  can  never  remove  it. 

During  the  siege  of  Charleston,  Col  Hayne  served 
his  country  in  a  corps  of  mounted  militia.  After 
the  capture  of  the  city,  and  the  investment  of  it  with 
British  authority,  no  alternative  was  left  him,  but  either 
to  abandon  his  family  and  property,  or  to  surrender  to 
the  conquerors.  He  concluded,  that  instead  of  waiting 
to  be  captured,  it  would  be  more  safe  and  honorable  to 
go  within  the  British  lines,  and  voluntarily  surrender 
himself.  Accordingly  he  repaired  to  Charleston,  and 
offered  to  bind  himself  by  the  honor  of  an  American 
officer,  to  do  nothing  prejudicial  to  the  British  interest 
till  he  should  be  exchanged.  Reports  made  of  his 
superior  abilities  and  influence,  uniformly  exerted  in 
the  American  cause,  operated  with  the  conquerors  to 
refuse  him  a  parole,  though  they  were  daily  granting 
that  indulgence  to  other  inhabitants.  He  was  told  he 
must  either  become  a  British  subject  or  submit  to  close 
confinement.  To  be  arrested  and  detained  in  Charles 
ton,  was  not  to  himself  an  intolerable  evil,  but  to  aban- 


SITUATION    OF    COL.    HAYNE.  187 

don  his  family  both  to  the  ravages  of  the  small-pox, 
then  raging  in  the  neighborhood,  and  to  the  insults  and 
depradations  of  the  loyalists,  was  too  much  for  the 
tender  husband  and  fond  parent.  To  acknowledge 
himself  the  subject  of  a  government  which  he  had  from 
principle  renounced,  was  repugnant  to  his  feelings  ;  but 
without  this  he  was  cut  off  from  every  prospect  of  a 
return  to  his  family.  To  his  friend  Dr.  Ramsay, 
(afterwards  the  historian)  who  was  then  a  prisoner  with 
the  enemy,  he  communicated  the  conflicting  emotions 
of  his  mind.  "  If  the  British,"  said  he,  "  would  grant 
me  the  indulgence,  which  we  in  the  day  of  our  power 
gave  to  their  adherents,  of  removing  family  and  proper 
ty,  I  would  seek  an  asylum  in  the  remotest  corner  of 
the  United  States  rather  than  submit  to  their  govern 
ment  ;  but  as  they  allow  no  other  alternative  than  sub 
mission  or  confinement  in  the  capital,  at  a  distance 
from  my  wife  and  family,  at  a  time  when  they  are  in 
the  most  pressing  need  of  my  support,  I  must  for  the 
present  yield  to  the  demand  of  the  conquerors.  I  re 
quest  you  to  bear  in  mind,  that,  previous  to  my  taking 
this  step,  I  declare  that  it  is  contrary  to  my  inclination, 
and  forced  on  me  by  hard  necessity.  /  never  will 
bear  arms  against  my  country.  My  new  masters  can 
require  no  service  of  me  but  what  is  enjoined  by  the 
old  militia  law  of  the  province,  which  substitutes  a  fine 
in  lieu  of  personal  service.  That  I  will  pay  as  the 
price  of  my  protection.  If  my  conduct  should  be  cen 
sured  by  my  countrymen,  I  beg  that  you  would  remem 
ber  this  conversation,  and  bear  witness  for  me,  that  I 
do  not  mean  to  desert  the  cause  of  America." 

In  this  state  of  perplexity,  this  amiable  man  sub 
scribed  a  declaration  of  his  allegiance  to  the  king  of 
Great  Britain,  but  not  without  expressly  objecting  to  the 
12* 


___ 


A, 


138  MARION    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

clause  which  required  him  to  bear  arms  in  support  of 
the  royal  government.  The  commandant  of  the  gar 
rison,  Brig  Gen.  Paterson,  and  James  Simpson  Esqr, 
intendant  of  the  British  police,  assured  him  that  this 
would  never  be  required  ;  and  added  further  that  when 
the  regular  forces  could  not  defend  the  country  without 
the  aid  of  its  inhabitants,  it  would  be  high  time  for  the 
royal  army  to  quit  it. 

Having  submitted  to  the  royal  government,  he  was 
permitted  to  return  to  his  family,  happy  in  the  expec 
tation  of  preserving  it  through  the  prevailing  pestilence. 
But  in  this  hope  he  was  sorely  disappointed ;  his  wife 
and  two  children  fell  victims  to  the  fatal  malady. 
These  afflictions  were  augmented  by  the  fact  that  the 
British  authorities,  in  violation  of  their  contract  with 
him,  repeatedly  called  upon  him  to  take  up  arms 
against  his  countrymen,  and  finally  threatened  him  with 
close  confinement  if  he  did  not  comply. 

In  this  situation  Hayne  was  found  when  Greene  forced 
the  enemy  from  the  upper  country.  A  detachment  of 
Marion's  militia,  under  Col.  Harden,  passing  to  the  west 
of  the  Edisto  for  the  protection  of  their  homes,  reached 
the  neighborhood  of  Hayne.  They  solicited  his  co 
operation.  The  success  of  their  cause  was  the  wish  of 
his  heart  he  said,  but  stated  the  change  in  his  political 
condition,  and  that  he  was  bound  by  his  declaration  of 
allegiance.  Yet  he  assured  them  -that  whenever  he 
found  the  royal  authority  unable  to  afford  its  promised 
protection,  he  should  consider  himself  absolved  from  the 
extorted  allegiance,  and  would  with  joy  enrol  himself 
with  the  defenders  of  his  country. 

Thus  did  Col.  Hayne  scrupulously  adhere  to  a 
contract  which  was  never  obligatory, — having  been 


COL»    HAYNE    AND    MCLAUGHLIN.  139 

coerced  by  the  duress  of  power,  and  in  palpable  violation 
of  the  capitulation  of  Charleston. 

Soon  after  this  occurrence,  the  British  were  driven 
below  the  Edisto,  and  nearly  the  whole  country  there 
fell  under  protection  of  the  American  arms.  Every 
person  in  the  recovered  country  believed  himself  re 
leased  from  the  obligations  imposed  by  the  late  condi 
tion  of  affairs  ;  for  it  was  justly  thought  that  the  allegi 
ance  due  to  a  conqueror  ceased  with  his  expulsion  from 
the  subdued  territory.  Under  this  correct  impression, 
Hayne  and  many  others  repaired  to  the  American  camp. 
His  merit  attracted  immediate  attention,  and  the  militia 
of  his  district  honored  him  with  the  command  of  a  regi 
ment.  He  immediately  took  the  field,  and  conducted 
an  expedition  in  the  enemy's  country.  Some  of  his 
mounted  militia  penetrated  the  neck  of  Charleston,  and, 
near  the  quarter-house,  took  Gen.  Williamson  prisoner. 
This  was  the  same  Williamson  who  was  an  active  offi 
cer  in  the  South  Carolina  militia  from  the  commence 
ment  of  the  war  to  the  surrender  of  Charleston,  after 
which  event  he  became  a  British  subject^  and  was  as 
energetic  in  supporting  the  royal  authority  as  before  he 
had  been  opposed  to  it. 

Such  was  the  anxiety  of  the  British  commandant  to 
rescue  Williamson,  he  ordered  out  his  whole  cavalry  on 
the  business.  This  detachment  fell  suddenly  on  the 
camp  of  Hayne  ;  but  was  handsomely  received  and  re 
pelled  by  Col.  Harden,  who,  owing  to  the  inferiority  of* 
his  force,  did  not  deem  it  prudent  to  push  his  success 
by  pursuit.  Col.  Hayne,  (attended  by  his  second  lieu 
tenant,  Col.  M'Laughlin)  had  unfortunately  gone  to 
breakfast  with  a  friend  about  two  miles  from  camp. 
The  house  was  on  the  Charleston  road,  and  Hayne  was 
unapprized  of  the  enemy's  approach  until  he  saw  them 


140  MARION  AND  HIS  TIMES. 

a  few  rods  from  the  door.  Being  very  active  and  reso 
lute,  he  pushed  for  his  horse,  mounted,  and  forced  his 
way  through  the  foe.  To  pass  a  fence  in  his  route,  he 
put  spur  to  his  horse,  who  fell  in  making  the  leap,  and 
the  entangled  rider  was  overtaken  by  his  pursuers. 
M'Laughlin,  being  cut  ofFfrom  his  horse,  died  sword  in 
hand,  bravely  contending  against  the  surrounding 
enemy. 

Coi.  Hayne  was  conveyed  to  Charleston,  and  lodged 
in  the  prison  of  the  Provost.  This  prison  was  the  mid 
dle  part  of  the  cellar  under  the  Exchange.  The  damp 
ness  of  this  unwholesome  spot,  together  with  the  want 
of  a  fire-place,  caused  among  its  unhappy  inmates  some 
deaths  and  much  sickness.  In  it  the  American  State 
prisoner  and  the  British  felon  shared  the  same  fate. 

At  first,  Col.  Hayne  was  promised  a  trial,  and  had 
counsel  prepared  to  justify  his  conduct  by  the  laws  of 
nations  and  usages  of  war  ;  but  this  was  finally  refused, 
and  he  was  ordered  to  be  executed  on  the  31st  of  July. 
This  sentence  was  given  by  lord  Rawdon  and  Col. 
Balfour.  The  prisoner  addressed  a  letter  to  the  two 
British  officers,  to  which  the  town  major  returned  the 
following  answer.  "I  have  to  inform  you,  that  your 
execution  is  not  ordered  in  consequence  of  any  sentence 
from  the  Court  of  Inquiry ;  but  by  virtue  of  the  authority 
with  which  the  commander-in-chief  in  South  Carolina 
and  the  commanding  officer  in  Charleston  are  invested : 
and  their  resolves  on  this  subject  are  fixed  and  un 
changeable." 

The  royal  Lieut.  Gov.  Ball,  and  a  great  number  of 
the  inhabitants,  both  royalists  and  patriots,  interceded 
for  his  life.  The  ladies  of  Charleston  generally  signed 
a  petition  in  his  behalf.  Mrs.  Perronneau,  his  sister, 
accompanied  by  hi§  children,  all  clad  in  the  deepest 


LAST    MOMENTS    OF    COL.    HAYNE.  143 

mourning,  and  manifesting  the  torture  of  heart-rending 
agony,  waited  on  Lord  Rawdon,  and  on  their  knees 
supplicated  for  the  life  of  their  unfortunate  relative. 
But  all  was  of  no  avail;  his  lordship's  "resolve  was 
fixed  and  unchangeable." 

Disdaining  further  discussion  with  relentless  power, 
Hayne  merely  solicited  a  short  respite,  to  enable  him 
for  the  last  time  to  see  his  friends  and  children.  The 
respite  was  granted.  He  was  repeatedly  visited  by  his 
friends,  and  conversed  on  various  subjects  with  becom 
ing  fortitude.  He  particularly  lamented  that,  on  prin 
ciples  of  retaliation,  his  execution  would  probably  be 
an  introduction  to  the  shedding  of  much  blood.  He 
requested  those  in  whom  the  supreme  power  was  vest 
ed,  to  accommodate  the  mode  of  his  death  to  the  feel 
ings  of  an  officer  ;  but  this  was  refused.  On  the  last 
evening  of  his  life,  he  told  a  friend  that  he  was  "  no 
more  alarmed  at  the  thoughts  of  death  than  at  any 
other  occurrence  which  was  necessary  and  unavoidable." 

On  receiving  his  summons,  on  the  morning  of  the 
4th  August,  (1781)  to  proceed  to  the  place  of  execu 
tion,  he  delivered  to  his  eldest  son,  a  youth  thirteen 
years  of  age,  several  papers  relative  to  his  case,  say 
ing,  "  Present  these  papers  to  Mrs.  Edwards,  with  my 
request  that  she  forward  them  to  her  brother  in  Con 
gress.  You  will  next  repair  to  the  place  of  execution, 
receive  my  body,  and  see  it  decently  interred  among 
my  forefathers."  He  then  embraced  his  son,  implor 
ing  the  Divine  Blessing  upon  his  orphan  children,  and 
took  his  final  leave  of  the  boy.  Dressed  with  his  ac 
customed  neatness,  accompanied  by  a  few  friends,  he 
marched  with  unruffled  serenity  through  a  weeping 
crowd.  The  procession  began  from  the  Exchange,  in 
the  forenoon.  The  streets  were  thronged  with  thou- 


144  MARION    AND    HIS   TIMES. 

sands  of  anxious  spectators.  He  continued  on  his  way 
to  the  place  of  execution,  with  such  decent  firmness, 
composure  and  dignity,  as  to  awaken  the  compassion 
of  many,  and  command  respect  from  all.  There  was 
a  majesty  in  his  sufferings  which  rendered  him  supe 
rior  to  the  pangs  of  death. 

When  the  city  barrier  was  past,  and  the  instrument 
of  his  catastrophe  appeared  in  full  view,  a  faithful 
friend  by  his  side  whispered  that  he  "  trusted  he  would 
exhibit  an  example  of  the  manner  in  which  an  Ameri 
can  can  die." 

"  I  will  endeavor  to  do  so,"  was  the  tranquil  reply 
of  the  martyr ;  and  never  was  an  intention  better  ful 
filled.  Neither  arrogating  superiority,  nor  betraying 
weakness,  he  ascended  the  cart,  with  a  firm  step  and 
serene  aspect.  He  inquired  of  the  executioner,  who 
was  making  an  attempt  to  get  up  to  pull  the  cap 
over  his  eyes,  what  he  wanted.  Upon  being  inform 
ed  of  the  man's  object,  he  replied,  "  I  will  save  you 
that  trouble,"  and  pulled  the  cap  over  his  own  eyes. 
He  then  gave  the  signal  for  the  cart  to  move,  illustra 
ting  by  his  demeanour  that  death  in  the  cause  of  our 
country,  even  on  a  gallows,  cannot  appal  the  virtuous 
and  the  brave  ! 

Thus  perished,  in  the  bloom  of  his  life,  a  gallant 
officer,  a  worthy  citizen,  a  just  and  upright  man  ;  fur 
nishing  an  example  of  heroism  that  extorted  a  confes 
sion  from  the  British,  "  that  though  he  did  not  die  in  a 
good  cause,  he  must  at  least  have  acted  from  the  per 
suasion  of  its  being  so."  Unhappily  for  this  virtuous 
man,  the  royal  power  was  fast  declining  in  the  South. 
The  inhabitants  were  eager  to  cast  off  the  temporary 
allegiance  of  the  conquest ;  it  was  deemed  necessary 
to  awe  them  into  submission  by  some  distinguished  se 
venty,  and  Col.  Hayne  was  the  selected  victim  ! 


MARION    RELIEVES    COL.    HARDEN.  145 

Marion  and  his  brigade,  though  they  mourned  the 
loss  of  their  brave  compatriots  at  the  battle  of  Quin- 
by's  bridge,  were  far  from  being  disheartened,  and 
while  the  main  army  was  encamped  among  the  High 
Hills  during  the  intense  heat  of  the  season,  we  find 
them  and  their  leader  busy  at  work  among  the  Tories. 
With  a  body  of  two  hundred  men,  Marion  proceeded 
on  a  secret  expedition  to  the  relief  of  Col.  Harden, 
who  was  closely  pressed  by  a  very  superior  force  of 
British  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Edisto.  Marching  ra 
pidly  a  distance  of  over  a  hundred  miles,  he  arrived  in 
time  to  concert  an  ambuscade  in  a  swamp  adjacent  to 
Parker's  Ferry,  where  he  decoyed  the  enemy,  and  com 
mitted  a  terrible  slaughter  upon  their  cavalry,  rescuing 
Harden  without  any  loss. 

Gen.  Greene  now  concerted  measures  for  forcing  the 
British  from  their  posts.  Though  the  two  armies  were 
within  fifteen  miles  o'f  each  other  on  a  right  line,  yet, 
as  two  rivers  intervened,  and  boats  could  not  be  pro 
cured,  the  American  army  was  obliged  to  make  a 
circuit  of  seventy  miles,  the  more  conveniently  to  cross 
the  Wateree  and  the  Congaree.  Soon  after  crossing 
these  rivers,  they  were  joined  by  Pickens,  with  a  party 
of  militia  ;  and  Marion  and  his  brigade  reached  them 
on  the  7th  of  September,  the  day  before  the  battle  of 
Eutaw  Springs.*  The  whole  American  force  being 
thus  collected,  2000  in  all,  Greene  prepared  to  give 
battle.  The  force  of  the  British  under  Col.  Stewart, 
was  about  the  same  in  number.  They  had  retired  from 

*  "  We  moved  by  slow  and  easy  marches,  as  well  to  disguise 
our  real  intention,  as  to  give  General  Marion  an  opportunity  to 
join  us,  who  had  been  detached  for  the  support  of  Col.  Harden. 
Gen.  Marion  joined  us  on  the  evening  of  the  7th,,  at  Burdell's 
plantation,  seven  miles  from  the  enemy's  camp." — Gen.  Greene's 
Correspondence. 

13 


146  MARION    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

the  Congaree  about  forty  miles,  and  taken  post  at 
Eutaw  Springs,  about  sixty  miles  north  of  Charleston. 

Quite  early  on  the  morning  of  the  8th,  the  Ameri 
cans  moved  to  the  attack,  and  fell  in  with  two  ad 
vanced  parties  of  the  British,  about  four  miles  ahead 
of  the  main  army.  These,  being  briskly  charged  by 
the  legion  and  state  troops,  soon  retired.  The  front 
line  advanced,  and  continued  firing,  and  advancing  on 
the  British  legion  till  the  action  became  general.  In 
the  hottest  of  the  engagement,  while  great  execution 
was  doing  on  both  sides,  Col.  Williams  and  Col.  Camp 
bell,  with  the  Maryland  and  Virginia  continentals, 
were  ordered  by  Greene  to  charge  with  trailed  arms. 
Nothing  could  surpass  the  intrepidity  of  both  officers 
and  men  on  this  occasion.  They  pushed  on  in  good 
order,  through  a  heavy  cannonade  and  shower  of  mus 
ketry,  with  such  unshaken  resolution,  that  they  bore 
down  all  before  them.  Col.  Lee,  with  great  address, 
turned  the  left  flank  of  the  British,  and  attacked  them 
at  the  same  time  in  the  rear.  Henderson,  being  wound 
ed  early  in  the  action,  the  South  Carolina  state  troops 
were  led  on  by  Col.  Hampton,  the  next  in  command, 
to  a  very  spirited  charge,  in  which  were  taken  upwards 
of  a  hundred  prisoners.  The  militia  from  North  and 
South  Carolina  was  commanded  by  Marion,  General 
Marion,  Colonel  Malmady,  and  General  Pickens,  con 
ducted  the  troops  with  great  gallantry  and  good  con 
duct,  and  the  militia  fought  with  a  degree  of  spirit  and 
firmness  that  reflected  the  highest  honor  upon  that 
class  of  soldiers. 

The  British  were  routed  in  all  quarters,  and  were 
closely  pursued.  On  their  retreat,  numbers  of  them 
threw  themselves  into  a  strong  brick  house;  others 
took  post  in  a  picquetted  garden  among  impenetrable 
Bhrubs.  The  eagerness  of  the  Americans  urged  them 


DEATH    OP    COL.    CAMPBELL.  147 

to  attack  the  enemy  in  these  positions.  Col.  Washing 
ton  made  every  possible  exertion  to  dislodge  them  from 
the  thickets,  but  failed  ;  he  had  his  horse  shot  under 
him,  and  was  wounded  and  taken  prisoner. 

The  battle  lasted  upwards  of  three  hours,  and  was 
fiercely  contested,  every  corps  in  both  armies  bravely 
supporting  each  other.  The  loss  was  uncommonly 
great, — more  than  one-fifth  of  the  British,  and  one- 
fourth  of  the  American  army,  being  killed  and  wound 
ed.  The  British  made  60  prisoners,  all  wounded.  The 
Americans  about  500.  The  entire  loss  of  the  British 
amounted  to  more  than  1100.  Among  the  killed  of 
the  American  officers,  was  the  brave  Lieut.  Colonel 
Campbell  of  the  Virginia  line.  After  his  fall  he  in 
quired  who  gave  way,  and  being  informed  the  British 
were  fleeing  in  all  quarters,  he  added,  "  /  die  content 
ed,"  and  immediately  expired. 

The  British  commander,  leaving  his  dead  unburied, 
commenced  a  retreat,  and  avoided  the  engagement 
which  Gen.  Greene  had  determined  to  renew  on  the 
following  day.  Pursuit  was  commenced,  and  Greene 
detached  Marion  and  Lee,  with  a  view  of  seizing  the 
first  strong  pass  on  the  road  to  Charleston,  as  well  as 
to  interrupt  Stewart,  and  to  prevent  any  accession  of 
force  which  might  be  detached  from  the  British  gar 
rison  at  Charleston  ;  while  he  himself  continued  in 
his  camp,  actively  engaged  in  preparing  arrangements 
for  the  conveyance  of  the  wounded  to  the  High  Hills. 
Marion  and  Lee,  approaching  the  enemy's  left,  discov 
ered  that  he  had  been  busily  employed  in  sending  off 
his  sick  and  wounded.  News  was  received  that  a  de 
tachment,  from  Monk's  Corner,  led  by  Maj.  M' Arthur, 
was  hastening  to  join  Stewart.  This  detachment  effected 
its  junction  with  the  main  army,  and  Marion  retired  to 
a  favorite  place  of  retreat  in  the  Santee  river  swamp. 
x 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Malicious  destruction  of  property  by  the  British ;  their 
officers  speculating  in  negroes.  The  fall  of  Corn- 
wallis — rejoicings  in  the  camp.  The  tories  massacre 
Cap.  Turner  and  twenty  others  by  a  band  of  tories — 
Cunningham's  murder  of  Hayes  and  others.  The 
army  at  Round  O — its  tattered  condition — mutiny — * 
execution  of  Gornell.  Marion  elected  to  the  legisla 
ture — he  repairs  to  Jacksonborough — the  British  take 
advantage  of  his  absence.  Marion  hastens  to  the  Pedee 
country  to  quell  a  rising  of  the  Tories  under  Major 
Gainey.  Murder  of  Col.  Kolb  by  the  Tories.  Treaty 
between  Marion  and  Gainey.  Marion  protects  Butler, 
the  tory.  Evacuation  of  Charleston  by  the  British^ 
Marriage  of  Marion.  His  death. 

MARION  did  not  remain  in  the  Santee  river  swamp 
any  longer  than  to  refresh  his  men  and  call  in  new  re 
cruits,  for  the  British  commander,  well  convinced  that 
the  career  of  British  arms  in  South  Carolina  was  not 
to  continue  much  longer,  began  to  lay  waste  the  plan 
tations  and  destroy  property.  The  prospects  of  gain 
from  the  sale  of  negroes  were  too  seducing  to  be  re 
sisted  by  the  officers  of  the  British  army.  They 
plundered  them  from  the  plantations,  and  shipped  them 
from  Charleston  to  the  West  Indies,  where  they  found 
a  ready  market.  It  has  been  computed  that  between 
the  years  1775  and  1783,  the  state  of  South  Carolina 
lost  in  this  way  twenty-five  thousand  negroes.  It  was 
with  a  view  of  profit  thus  to  be  gained  that  the  Tories 
frequently  made  a  rising,  plundered  the  plantations  of 
the  Whigs,  carried  off  their  negroes,  and  sold  them  to 
148 


MASSACRE    OP    WHIGS    BY   TORIES.  149 

the  British  officers  for  small  prices.  Against  Tory 
gatherings  of  this  kind  Marion  and  his  brigade,  every 
now  and  then  set  forth,  dispersing  them  and  keeping 
them  in  check. 

The  tidings  of  the  capture  of  Cornwall  is  at  York- 
town,*  reached  the  American  camp  on  the  9th  Novem 
ber,  and  there  was  consequently  much  rejoicing.  At 
the  same  time,  the  thanks  of  Congress  were  forwarded 
to  Marion. 

About  the  middle  of  November  (the  18th)  Greene 
broke  up  his  camp  at  the  High  Hills,  and  put  his  army 
in  motion.  The  British  retreated  before  him,  and  such 
was  the  success  of  the  Americans,  that  the  enemy  were 
completely  shut  up  in  the  city  of  Charleston  and  its 
isthmus.  At  this  juncture,  a  desperate  band  of  Tories 
adopted  the  infernal  scheme  of  taking  their  last  revenge, 
by  carrying  fire  and  sword  into  the  plantations  adjoin 
ing  the  city.  To  this  end,  Major  William  Cunningham, 
of  the  British  militia,  collected  a  party  ;  and  having 
furnished  them  with  every  thing  necessary  for  laying 
waste  the  country,  sallied  from  Charleston.  In  the  un 
suspecting  hour  of  sleep,  and  domestic  security,  they 
entered  the  houses  of  solitary  farmers,  and  sacrificed 
to  their  revenge  the  obnoxious  head  of  the  family. 
Their  cruelties  induced  some  small  parties  to  associate 
and  arm  in  self-defence.  Cap.  Turner  and  twenty 
men,  on  these  principles,  had  taken  post  in  a  house  and 
defended  themselves  till  their  ammunition  was  expended. 
After  which  they  surrendered  themselves,  on  receiving 
assurance  that  they  should  be  treated  as  prisoners  of 
war.  Notwithstanding  this  solemn  agreement,  Turner 

*  19th  October,  1781. 
13* 


150  MARION   AND    HIS   TIMES. 

and  his  party  were  put  to  instant  death  by  Cunningham 
and  the  men  under  his  command. 

Soon  after  this  massacre,  the  same  party  of  Tories 
attacked  a  number  of  American  militia,  in  the  district 
of  Ninety-Six,  commanded  by  Col.  Hayes,  and  set  fire 
to  the  house  in  which  they  had  taken  shelter.  The 
only  alternative  left  was  either  to  be  burned,  or  to  sur 
render  themselves  prisoners.  The  latter  being  preferred, 
Col.  Hayes  and  Cap.  Daniel  Williams  were  at  once 
hung  on  the  pole  of  a  fodder  stack.  The  pole  broke 
and  they  fell,  upon  which  Cunningham  inhumanly  cut 
them  to  pieces  with  his  own  sword  ;  then,  turning  upon 
the  others,  he  continued  on  them  his  operations  of  sav 
age  barbarity,  till  the  powers  of  nature  being  exhausted, 
and  his  enfeebled  limbs  refusing  to  administer  any 
longer  to  his  insatiate  fury,  he  called  upon  his  com 
rades  to  complete  the  dreadful  work,  by  killing  which 
ever  of  the  prisoners  they  pi-eased.  They  instantly  put 
to  death  such  of  them  as  they  personally  disliked. 
Only  two  fell  in  action,  but  fourteen  were  deliberately 
cut  to  pieces.* 

The  further  progress  of  this  sanguinary  officer  and 
his  butchering  followers,  was  checked  by  Marion,  who 
drove  him  back  to  Charleston. 

The  main  army  under  Gen.  Greene  was  now  en 
camped  at  Round  O,  situated  between  the  Edisto  and 
Ashepoo  rivers,  about  fifty  miles  from  Charleston. 
Greene  detached  Marion  with  his  militia  to  the  east  of 
Ashley  river,  with  orders  to  guard  the  district  between 
that  river  and  the  Cooper. 

The  tattered  condition  of  Greene's  and  Marion's 
soldiers  at  this  time,  and  their  destitute  situation,  wag 

*  Ramsay. 


MARION    IN    THE    LEGISLATURE.  151 

such  "  that  seven  hundred  of  them  were  as  naked  as 
they  were  born,  excepting  a  small  slip  of  cloth  about 
their  waists  ;  and  they  were  nearly  as  destitute  of  meat 
as  clothing.  Though  they  had  abundant  reason  to 
complain,  yet,  while  they  were  every  day  marching, 
and  almost  every  week  fighting,  they  were  in  good 
health,  good  spirits,  and  good  humor;  but  when  the 
enemy  was  confined  within  his  fortifications,  and  they 
were  inactive,  they  became  sickly  and  discontented,  and 
a  few  began  to  be  mutinous.  Their  long  arrears  of 
pay,  their  deficiency  of  clothing,  and  their  want  of 
many  comforts,  were  forgotton  whilst  constant  action 
employed  their  minds  and  bodies ;  but  when  an  inter 
ruption  of  hostilities  gave  them  leisure  to  brood  over 
their  calamities,  these  evils  were  presented  to  their 
imaginations  in  aggravated  colors.  A  plan  was  seri 
ously  laid  to  deliver  their  gallant  and  victorious  leader 
(Greene)  into  the  hands  of  the  British ;  but  the  whole 
design  was  happily  discovered  and  prevented  from 
being  carried  into  execution.  To  the  honor  of  the 
Continental  army,  it  may  with  justice  be  added,  that, 
notwithstanding  the  pressure  of  their  many  sufferings, 
the  whole  number  concerned  in  the  plot  did  not  exceed 
twelve."* 

Early  in  the  year  1782,  Gen.  Marion,  leaving  his 
brigade  near  the  Santee  river,  repaired  himself  to  Jack- 
sonborough,  there  to  take  his  seat  in  the  Legislature, 
to  which  he  had  been  elected  a  member  from  the  par 
ish  of  St.  John's,  Berkeley.  His  absence  from  the 
command,  inspired  the  enemy  with  the  hope  that  a 
corps  which  had  heretofore  been  invulnerable  might 
now  be  struck.  A  detachment  of  seven  hundred  men, 

*  Appendix  G. 


152  MARION    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

cavalry  and  infantry,  under  Col.  Thompson,*  passed 
the  Cooper  river,  near  Charleston,  late  in  the  evening, 
and  proceeded  towards  the  Santee»  Gen.  Greene  ob 
tained  a  hint  of  the  approach  of  this  detachment  against 
the  camp  of  Marion,  and  sent  word  to  Marion  that  he 
had  better  hasten  to  resume  the  command  of  his  brig 
ade.  By  a  circuitous  route  and  rapid  riding,  Marion 
hurried  from  Jacksonborough,  but  hearing  that  the  en 
emy  were  retiring,  he  halted  to  refresh.  This  delay 
proved  fatal  to  his  brigade.  It  was  merely  a  feint  of 
the  British,  who,  observing  the  greatest  secresy,  and 
pushing  their  march  with  diligence,  fell  upon  the  camp 
and  completely  routed  the  brigade.  Some  were  killed, 
some  wounded,  and  the  rest  dispersed.  Major  Benson, 
an  active  officer,  was  among  the  killed.  Thompson 
hastened  back  to  Charleston  with  his  detachment,  and 
Marion,  undismayed  by  this  loss,  energetically  com 
menced  reassembling  his  brigade. 

For  several  months,  the  inhabitants  of  South  Carolina 
had  been  in  the  peaceable  enjoyment  of  legal  govern 
ment,  except  Charleston,  and  a  small  range  of  country 
on  the  little  Pedee,  where  the  British  still  held  the  pow 
er.  Major  Gainey,  (Marion's  old  enemy)  and  a  band 
of  Tories,  resided  here ;  and,  insulated  as  they  were, 
still  resisted,  f  The  absence  of  Marion  from  that  part 
of  the  country  emboldened  them,  and  a  rising  took  place. 

*  Benjamin  Thompson,  born  in  New  Hampshire,  espoused 
the  Royal  cause,  and  after  the  war,  was  knighted.  He  subse 
quently  entered  the  Bavarian  service,  and  was  created  Count 
Rumford. 

t  A  party  of  them,  commanded  by  a  Cap,  Jones,  surrounded 
and  set  fire  to  the  house  of  Col.  Kolb,  a  respectable  American 
militia  officer.  He,  after  receiving  assurance  of  being  treated  as  a 
prisoner  of  war,  surrendered,  Nevertheless,  he  was  instantly  put 
to  death  in  the  presence  of  his  wife  and  children. 


TREATY  BETWEEN  MARION  AND  GAINEY.   153 

Marion,  arranged  his  plans  for  quelling  this  insurrec 
tion,  and  moved  rapidly  towards  the  Pedee  country, 
and  sudden  and  unexpected  was  his  arrival,  and  they 
were  taken  by  surprise.  The  very  name  of  Marion 
was  a  terror  to  them,  and  his  presence  doubly  so. 
They  showed  no  disposition  for  fighting  him.  Gainey 
sent  a  flag  to  Marion,  announcing  his  readiness  to  re 
new  the  treaty  which  had  been  entered  into  a  year 
previously.  Commissioners  were  appointed  on  both 
sides.  These  commissioners  could  not  agree,  and  sepa 
rated  in  anger ;  after  which  Marion  and  Gainey  met  in 
person,  at  a  place  called  Birch's  mill,  on  the  8th  of  June. 
By  the  treaty  which  was  here  signed  by  the  respective 
commanders,  more  than  five  hundred  men  laid  down 
their  arms.  The  treaty  was  in  the  following  words. 


ARTICLES  of  Treaty  between  General  Marion,  in  behalf 
of  South  Carolina,  and  Major  Gainey,  and  the  inhabi 
tants  under  his  command,  which  were  included  in  the 
Treaty  made  the  17th  day  of  June,  1781. 

"  ARTICLE  I.  Major  Gainey,  and  the  men  under  his 
command,  to  lay  down  their  arms  as  enemies  to  the 
State,  and  are  not  to  resume  them  again  until  ordered 
so  to  do,  in  support  of  the  interests  of  the  United 
States,  and  of  this  State  in  particular. 

ARTICLE  II.  We  will  deliver  up  all  the  negroes,  horses, 
cattle,  and  other  property,  that  have  been  taken  from 
this  or  any  other  state. 

ARTICLE  III.  We  will  demean  ourselves  as  peaceable 
citizens  of  this  state,  and  submit  ourselve^  to  be 
governed  by  its  laws,  in  the  same  manner  as  the  rest 
of  the  citizens  thereof. 


154  MARION    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

ARTICLE  IV.  We  do  engage  to  apprehend  and  de 
liver  up  all  persons  within  our  district,  who  shall  re 
fuse  to  accede  to  these  terms,  and  contumaciously 
resist  in  rebellion  against  this  state. 

ARTICLE  V.  We  will  deliver  up  as  soon  as  possible, 
every  man  who  belongs  to  any  regular  line  in  the 
American  service,  and  every  inhabitant  of  North 
Carolina,  of  this,  or  any  other  state,  who  having 
joined  us  since  the  17th  of  June  1781,  when  the 
former  Treaty  was  made,  or  oblige  them  to  go  out 
of  the  district ;  and  whenever  they  return,  to  take 
and  deliver  them  into  safe  custody  in  any  jail  within 
the  state. 

ARTICLE  VI.  Every  man  is  to  sign  an  instrument  of 
writing,  professing  his  allegiance  to  the  United  States 
of  America,  and  the  state  of  South  Carolina  in  par 
ticular  ;  and  to  abjure  his  Britannic  Majesty,  his  heirs, 
successors  and  adherents  ;  and  promise  to  oppose  all 
the  enemies  of  the  United  States,  and  the  State  of 
South  Carolina  in  particular. 

ARTICLE  VII.  All  arms,  amunition,  and  other  warlike 
stores,  the  property  of  the  British,  to  be  delivered  up. 

ARTICLE  VIII.  The  above  seven  articles  being  agreed 
on,  they  shall  have  a  full  pardon  for  treasons  com 
mitted  by  them  against  the  state,  and  enjoy  their 
property,  and  be  protected  by  the  laws  thereof. 

ARTICLE  IX.  Such  men  as  do  not  choose  to  accede 
to  these  Articles,  shall  have  leave  to  go  within  the 
British  lines,  and  to  march  by  the  25th  inst,  and  be 
safely  conducted,  with  such  of  their  wives  and  chil 
dren  as  may  be  able  to  travel,  and  carry  or  sell  their 
property,  except  cattle,  sheep  and  hogs,  which  they 
may  dispose  of,  but  not  carry  with  them.  Such 
women  and  children  who  cannot  be  removed,  may 


BUTLER,  THE  TORY,  PROTECTED.       155 

remain  until  the  1st  of  September  next.  The  officers 
to  keep  their  pistols  and  side  arms ;  all  other  arms 
to  be  disposed  of,  and  not  carried  with  them.  Each 
field  officer  and  captain  to  retain  one  horse,  not 
exceeding  twelve  in  the  whole ;  and  no  other  per 
son  to  take  with  him  any  more  horses  that  may  be  fit 
for  dragoon  service,  within  the  British  lines. 
We  have  agreed  to  the  before- mentioned  nine  articles, 
and  have  signed  the  same  at  Birch's  mill,  on  Pedee, 
this  8th  day  of  June,  1782."* 

Marion  now  set  to  work  to  bring  all  the  inhabitants 
of  this  disaffected  district  to  submission.  The  wise  and 
forgiving  policy  pursued  by  him,  was  attended  with  the 
happiest  consequences.  Bitter  enemies  were  converted 
into  warm  friends  ;  and  many  of  these  reclaimed  citizens 
enrolled  themselves  in  the  corps  of  Marion,  ready  to 
fight  by  the  side  of  their  countrymen,  whose  lives  they 
had  sought  by  night  and  by  day,  from  the  fall  of  Charles- 
ton  to  the  period  of  this  Treaty.  Marion  granted  writ 
ten  protections  to  all  who  came  forward  and  subscribed 
to  the  treaty,  and  took  into  custody  those,  who,  unwil 
ling  to  retire  within  the  British  lines,  remained  without 
submitting. 

Among  others  who  submitted  was  a  certain  Capt. 
Butler,  who  had  been  particularly  oppressive  upon  the 
Whig  families  of  the  Pedee  country.  It  is  said  of  him 
that  a  more  sanguinary  being  never  existed.  He  had 
cruelly  oppressed  and  butchered  some  persons,  whose 
surviving  friends  were  in  the  camp.  Irritated  to  mad 
ness  at  the  thought  that  such  a  man  was,  by  submission, 

*  (Signed,)  Francis  Marion,  Brigadier  General,  State  of  South 
Carolina.  Micajah  Gainey,  Major  of  Loyalists,  Pedee. 


156  MARION   AND  HIS  TIMES. 

to  escape  the  just  reward  of  his  crimes,  a  hasty  and  in 
temperate  message  was  sent  to  Marion,  purporting  that 
such  a  villain  ought  not  to  receive  protection.  To  this 
Marion  calmly  replied, — "  Confidently  believing  that 
the  pardon  offered  by  the  Governor  would  be  granted, 
the  man  whom  you  would  destroy  has  submitted.  Both 
law  and  honor  sanction  my  resolution.  I  will  take 
him  to  my  tent,  and  at  the  hazard  of  my  life  protect 
him." 

A  second  message  now  informed  him  that  Butler 
should  be  dragged  from  his  tent  and  be  put  to  death. 
"  I  am  an  officer  acting  under  orders,"  replied  Marion, 
"  and  bound  to  defend  him.  I  will  do  so  though  I 
perish."  He  then  collected  a  guard  around  the  tent, 
into  which  he  had  introduced  Butler,  and,  at  an  early 
hour  after  night-fall,  had  him  conveyed  to  a  place  of 
safety.* 

Having  effectually  reduced  the  Pedee  country  to  sub 
mission,  Marion,  leaving  a  command  of  a  hundred  and 
sixty  men  to  maintain  the  ascendancy,  hurried  his  re 
turn  to  the  Santee.  Here  the  militia  collected  around 
him,  and  he  remained  the  scourge  of  the  British  and 
Tories  until  the  evacuation  of  Charleston. 

In  the  summer  of  1782  the  British  announced  their 
intention  of  evacuating  Charleston.  They  offered  to 
pay  for  rice  and  other  provisions  that  should  be  deliv 
ered  to  them  before  their  departure,  and  at  the  same 
time  threatened  that  if  it  was  with-held,  it  should  be 
taken  by  force,  and  without  compensation.  The  object  of 
Gen.  Leslie  (the  British  commander)  was  to  provision 
his  fleet  and  troops  previous  to  his  departure.  The 
civil  authority,  incensed  at  the  threat  accompanying 

*  Garden's  Anecdotes. 


COL.    JOHN    LAURENS.  157 

this  proposition,  objected  to  any  intercourse  being  open 
ed  between  the  town  and  country,  and  issued  orders  to 
Gen.  Greene  to  that  effect. 

In  this  state  of  matters,  the  British  commander 
urged  to  it  by  the  necessity  of  his  case,  sent  out  parties 
lo  sieze  provisions  near  the  different  landings,  and  to 
bring  them  by  water  to  Charleston.  One  of  the  most 
considerable  parties  on  this  service  was  sent  to  the 
Combakee  river,  where  they  arrived  on  the  25th  of 
August. 

Brigadier  General  Gist,  with  about  three  hundred 
cavalry  and  infantry  of  the  Continental  army,  was  de 
tached  by  Greene  to  oppose  them.  The  British  with 
a  fleet  of  boats  and  schooners,  had  already  rifled  many 
of  the  neighboring  plantations,  and  ravaged  the  pro 
perty  of  numerous  persons  who,  their  small  means  thus 
taken  from,  were  left  comparatively  destitute. 

Gen.  Gist  captured  one  of  their  schooners,  and  in  a 
great  degree  frustrated  their  designs  upon  the  Com 
bakee.  In  this  expedition  Gist  was  joined  by  the  young 
and  gallant  Col.  John  Laurens,  who,  hearing  of  it,  rose 
from  a  sick  bed,  and  resumed  his  command  in  the 
brigade,  and,  emulous  of  distinction,  solicited  the  post 
of  danger.  The  British,  defeated  by  Gist  from  securing 
provisions  on  the  south  side  of  the  river,  had  crossed 
it,  and  being  apprized  of  the  movements  of  Col.  Lau 
rens,  they  placed  an  ambush  for  him  on  the  road  which 
he  must  pass  to  take  command  of  the  post  to  which  he 
had  been  appointed. 

Laurens  passed  the  night  of  the  26th  at  the  planta 
tion  of  a  lady,  whose  house  was  so  nigh  the  post  to 
which  he  was  on  his  route,  that  it  was  easily  practi 
cable  for  him  to  spend  a  few  hours  in  the  company  of 

14 


15.8  MARION    AND    HIS   TIMES. 

some  agreeable  ladies  at  the  house,  and  reach  his 
post  before  the  break  of  day.  At  a  late  hour  the  com 
pany  broke  up.  Laurens,  and  his  small  party,  set  out  ; 
The  British  made  an  onset  from  their  ambush,  and 
Laurens  was  killed  at  the  first  discharge. 

Never  was  soldier  more  beloved  by  the  people  of 
South  Carolina  than  this  gallant  young  officer.  "Na 
ture  had  adorned  him,"  says  Ramsey,  "  with  a  profu 
sion  of  her  choicest  gifts,  to  which  a  well  conducted 
education  had  added  its  most  useful  as  well  as  its  most 
elegant  improvements.  Though  his  fortune  and  family 
entitled  him  to  a  pre-eminence,  yet  he  was  the  warm 
friend  of  Republican  equality.  Generous  and  liberal, 
his  heart  expanded  with  genuine  philanthropy.  Zealous 
for  the  rights  of  humanity,  he  contended  that  personal 
liberty  was  the  birth-right  of  every  human  being,  how 
ever  diversified  by  country,  color,  or  capacity.  His 
insinuating  address  won  the  hearts  of  all  his  acquaint 
ances  ;  his  sincerity  and  virtue  secured  their  lasting 
esteem.  Acting  from  the  most  honorable  principles — 
uniting  the  bravery  and  other  talents  of  a  great  officer 
with  the  knowledge  of  a  complete  scholar,  and  the  en 
gaging  manners  of  a  well-bred  gentleman,  he  was  the 
idol  of  his  country — the  glory  of  his  army — and  an 
ornament  of  human  nature.  His  abilities  shone  in  the 
legislature  and  in  the  cabinet,  as  well  as  in  the  field, 
and  were  equal  to  the  highest  stations.  His  admiring 
country,  sensible  of  his  rising  merit,  stood  prepared  to 
confer  on  him  her  most  distinguished  honors.  Cut 
down  in  the  midst  of  these  prospects,  he  left  mankind 
to  deplore  the  calamities  of  war,  which  in  the  twenty- 
seventh  year  of  his  life  deprived  society  of  so  invalua 
ble  a  citizen." 

The  evacuation  of  Charleston  took  place  on  the  14th 


EVACUATION  OF  CHARLESTON.        159 

of  December  1782.  On  that,  and  the  succeeding  day, 
the  British  went  on  board  their  shipping,  and  the  city 
was  entered  by  Gov.  Matthews  and  the  American  army, 
without  any  confusion  or  disorder.  Those  who  re 
mained  in  Charleston  felt  themselves  happy  in  being 
delivered  from  a  garrison  life.  The  exiled  citizens  ex 
perienced  sensations  more  easily  conceived  than  ex 
pressed,  on  returning  to  their  houses  and  estates.  The 
patriot  exulted  in  the  acknowledged  independence  of 
his  country.  The  soldier  rejoiced  that  the  toils  of  war 
were  over,  and  the  objects  of  it  fully  attained.  The 
farmer  redoubled  his  industry,  from  the  pleasing  con 
viction  that  the  produce  of  his  labor  would  be  secured 
to  him  without  any  danger  from  British  bayonets. 
Cheerfulness  and  good  humor  took  possession  of  minds 
that,  during  seven  years,  had  been  continually  occupied 
with  anxiety  and  distress. 

To  this  happy  result,  none  had  contributed  more  than 
Francis  Marion. 

The  citizens  generally,  instead  of  repining  at  their 
losses,  set  themselves  to  repair  them  by  diligence  and 
economy.  The  continental  officers  who  had  served  in 
the  state,  and  whose  bravery  and  exertions  had  ren 
dered  them  conspicuous,  were  so  well  received  by  the 
ladies,' that  several  of  them  had  their  gallantry  rewarded 
by  the  hands  of  some  of  the  finest  women  and  greatest 
fortunes  in  South  Carolina.  The  adherents  to  Royal 
Government  were  treated  by  those  in  power  with  mode 
ration  and  lenity.  Though  the  war  was  ended,  some 
address  was  necessary  to  compose  the  minds  of  the 
people.  Some  of  those  who  under  every  discourage 
ment  had  steadily  adhered  to  the  cause  of  Independence, 
took  to  themselves  the  appellation  of  the  virtuous  few, 
and  looked  down  with  contempt  on  such  of  their  fellow- 


160  MARION    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

citizens  as  had  conformed  their  allegiance  to  existing 
circumstances.  A  disposition  to  proscribe  and  banish 
persons  of  the  latter  description  showed  itself  under  the 
auspices  of  self-constituted  committees  ;  but  the  weight 
of  government,  and  the  influence  of  the  better  informed 
citizens,  was  successfully  exerted  to  counteract  it. 

After  the  evacuation  of  the  city,  the  army  was  dis 
banded.  Such  was  the  condition  of  the  public  treasury 
of  the  United  States,  that  Congress  was  scarcely  able 
to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  soldiers  in  returning  to 
their  homes.  The  laurels  they  had  dearly  earned  ;  the 
applause  of  their  countrymen,  which  they  had  eminently 
obtained ;  and  the  plaudits  of  their  consciences,  which 
they  honestly  possessed  ;  were  almost  the  only  rewards 
they  carried  home  at  the  termination  of  a  war,  in  which 
many  had  injured  their  constitutions,  and  all  had  dimin 
ished  their  fortunes.  Sympathizing  with  the  embar 
rassments  of  their  countrymen,  sensible  of  their  inability 
to  pay  them  their  stipulated  dues,  and  confiding  in  their 
justice  to  make  them  future  retribution,  they  cheerfully 
relinquished  the  uniform  of  the  military  for  the  plain 
garb  of  the  citizen. 

After  the  war  was  over,  Marion  retired  to  his  farm 
at  St.  John's,  Berkely.  This  lay  within  a  short  dis 
tance  of  the  usual  routes  of  the  British  army,  an'd  had 
been  repeatedly  ravaged;  and  furniture,  horses,  stock, 
clothing  for  his  negroes,  etc.,  were  now  wanting,  and 
he  was  without  means  to  purchase.  His  friends  held 
out  to  him  the  prospect  of  half-pay,  but  this  was  never 
granted  him.  He  cheerfully  set  to  work,  however,  and 
with  a  manly  industry  retrieved  his  diminished  fortunes 
as  much  as  possible. 

The  people  of  St.  John's  knew  that  his  services  were 
not  less  valuable  in  the  halls  of  legislation  than  in  the 


MARION    IN    THE    SENATE.  161 

camp,  and  they  elected  him  as  their  representative  to 
the  Senate  of  the  State,  where,  by  his  counsels,  he  ju 
diciously  aided  the  civil  operations  of  a  government,  to 
the  establishment  of  which  his  sword  had  so  largely 
contributed.  In  his  nature  there  was  nothing  vindic 
tive,  and  his  "  poor  deluded  countrymen,"  as  he  termed 
the  Tories,  found  in  him  an  advocate,  who  far  from 
visiting  them  with  the  severities  with  which  others  were 
ready  to  retaliate  upon  them,  always  gave  his  voice 
and  vote  on  the  side  of  mercy.  "  It  is  peace  now," 
said  he.  "  God  has  given  us  the  victory.  Let  us  show 
our  gratitude  to  Heaven,  which  we  shall  not  do  by 
cruelty  to  man." 

Whilst  he  was  a  member  of  the  Senate,  the  following 
resolution  was  passed  on  the  26th  of  February  1783. 

"  RESOLVED,  nem.  con.,  That  the  thanks  of  this 
House  be  given  to  Brigadier  General  Marion,  in  his 
place,  as  a  member  of  this  House,  for  his  eminent  and 
conspicuous  services  to  his  country. 

RESOLVED  nem.  con.,  That  a  gold  medal  be  given 
to  Brigadier  General  Marion,  as  a  mark  of  public  ap 
probation  for  his  great,  glorious,  and  meritorious 
conduct." 

The  President  of  the  Senate,  in  conveying  to  Marion 
the  sense  of  the  preceding  resolutions,  spoke  of  the  in 
expressible  pleasure  with  which  he  was  filled  upon  an 
occasion  so  interesting  ;  "  but  when  I  reflect  upon  the 
difficulty  of  doing  justice  to  your  distinguished  merit, 
I  feel  my  own  insufficiency.  Your  conduct  merits  the 
applause  of  your  countrymen ;  your  courage,  your 
vigilance,  and  your  abilities,  have  exceeded  their 
most  sanguine  expectations — and  have  answered  all 
their  hopes." 

To  the  speech  of  the  President,  (of  which  the  quota 
14* 


162  MARION    AND    HIS   TIMES. 

tion  is  but  a  brief  extract,)  Marion  replied :  "  Mr. 
President;  The  approbation  which  this  house  have 
given  of  my  conduct,  in  the  execution  of  my  duty, 
gives  me  very  pleasing  and  heartfelt  satisfaction.  The 
honor  which  they  have  conferred  on  me  this  day,  by 
their  thanks,  will  be  remembered  with  gratitude.  I 
shall  always  be  ready  to  exert  my  abilities  for  the  good 
of  the  state  and  the  liberties  of  her  inhabitants.  I 
thank  you,  sir,  for  the  polite  manner  in  which  you  have 
conveyed  to  me  the  thanks  of  the  Senate." 

In  the  year  1784,  the  Legislature  of  South  Carolina 
passed  a  bill  for  the  erecting  and  garrisoning  of  Fort 
Johnson,  in  Charleston  harbor.  Marion  was  put  in 
command  of  this  port,  with  a  salary  of  $2000  per  an 
num  ;  the  sum  being  voted  him  in  remuneration  for  his 
losses  during  the  war.  But  in  a  year  or  two,  citizens 
grumbled  their  dissatisfaction,  and  it  was  finally  re 
duced  to  8500. 

At  this  time,  a  lady  of  wealth,  who  "  loved  him  for 
the  dangers  he  had  passed,"  disclosed  the  state  of  her 
affections  to  some  persons,  who  were  the  mutual  friends 
of  either  party,  and  Marion  being  made  aware  of  the 
impression  he  had  made  upon  the  heart  of  this  lady, 
solicited  her  hand,  and  was  accepted.  The  name  of 
this  lady  was  Miss  Mary  Videau,  whose  ancestors,  like 
his  own,  were  among  the  Huguenots  that  sought  liberty 
of  conscience  on  the  shores  of  America,  being  denied 
that  inestimable  privilege  in  the  land  of  their  birth. 

Marion  was  past  fifty  years  of  age,  and  the  lady  was 
not  young.  They  lived  happily  together  ^  and  Marion, 
"  beloved  by  his  friends,  and  respected  by  his  enemies, 
exhibited  a  luminous  example  of  the  beneficial  effects 
to  be  produced  by  an  individual,  who,  with  only  small 


DEATH    OF    MARION.  163 

means  at  his  command,  possesses  a  virtuous  heart,  a 
strong  head,  and  a  mind  devoted  to  the  comman  good." 
The  death  of  Marion  took  place  at  his  residence  in 
St.  John's  parish,  in  the  month  of  February  1795. 
On  his  tomb  is  an  inscription,  which  reads  as  follows. 
"  Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Brigadier  General  Francis 
Marion,  who  departed  this  life  on  the  27th  of  February 
1795,  in  the  sixty-third  year  of  his  age,  deeply  regret 
ted  by  all  his  fellow  citizens.  History  will  record  his 
worth,  and  rising  generations  embalm  his  memory,  as 
one  of  the  most  distinguished  patriots  and  heroes  of  the 
American  Revolution  ;  which  elevated  his  native  coun 
try  to  Honor  and  Independence,  and  secured  to  her  the 
blessings  of  liberty  and  peace.  This  tribute  of  venera 
tion  and  gratitude  is  erected  in  commemoration  of  the 
noble  and  disinterested  virtues  of  the  citizen,  and  the 
gallant  exploits  of  the  soldier,  who  lived  without  fear, 
and  died  without  reproach." 


Francis  Marion,  in  the  trying  times  of  the  Revolu 
tion,  occupied  one  of  the  most  difficult  situations  in 
which  a  man  can  be  placed.  The  scene  of  his  exer 
tions  was  (as  we  have  seen)  in  a  country  where  the 
inhabitants  were  by  no  means  unanimous  in  their  oppo 
sition  to  the  British  government ;  but,  surrounded  as  he 
was  by  loyalists,  and  at  the  head  of  a  soldiery  unac 
customed  to  subordination,  he  encountered  and  sur 
mounted  difficulties  in  situations  that  probability  rendered 
hopeless,  and  "  with  a  steady  hand  he  steered  the  vessel 
amid  the  terrors  of  the  storm,  and  through  fearful 
breakers  safe  into  port." 

To  General  Marion,  as  a  military  chieftain,  our 
Y 


164  MARION    AND    HIS   TIMES. 

country  is  deeply  indebted,  and,  though  for  many  years 
he  did  not  receive  the  approbation  his  valor  had  earned, 
public  conviction  has  of  late  become  sensible  of  the 
obligations  that  she  owes  him ;  and  it  is  now  conceded, 
that  we  are  indebted  as  much  to  his  untiring  persever 
ance  in  subduing  the  Tories,  as  to  the  prowess  of  Gen. 
Greene  against  the  British  Armies,  in  bringing  the 
Southern  war  to  a  successful  termination.  But,  glori 
ous  as  is  his  name  as  a  soldier,  his  greatest  glory  lies 
in  the  moral  excellence  of  his  character,  his  spotless 
integrity,  disinterested  patriotism,  and  invincible  for 
titude.  He  was  patient  under  defeat,  moderate  in  vic 
tory.  And,  if  in  any  matter  we  see  the  especial  hand 
of  Providence,  surely  it  is  manifest  in  the  remarkable 
preservation  of  him  throughout  the  numerous  and  im 
minent  dangers  he  passed  during  the  Revolution. 

The  time-enduring  fame  of  the  patriot,  is  too  often 
lost  amid  the  glitter  of  military  renown,  and  the  splen 
dor  of  actions  miscalled  great.  "Mankind,"  says  Dr. 
Channing,  "  when  they  hear  of  battles,  the  picture 
which  rises  to  their  view,  is  not  what  it  should  be — a 
picture  of  extreme  wretchedness,  of  the  wounded,  the 
mangled,  the  slain  !  These  horrors  are  hidden  under 
the  splendor  of  those  mighty  energies  which  break  forth 
amid  the  perils  of  the  conflict,  and  which  human  nature 
contemplates  with  an  intense  and  heart-thrilling  delight. 
Attention  hurries  from  the  heaps  of  the  slaughtered  to 
the  victorious  chief,  whose  single  mind  pervades  and 
animates  a  host,  and  directs  with  stern  composure  the 
storm  of  battle,  and  the  ruin  which  he  spreads  is  for 
gotten  in  admiration  of  his  power.  Thus,  war  is  the 
surest  and  speediest  road  to  renown ;  and  war  will 
never  cease  while  the  field  of  glory,  and  the  most  lux 
uriant  laurels,  grow  from  a  root  nourished  with  blood." 


CHARACTER    OF   MARION.  165 

Alexander — Cesar — Napoleon  !  In  the  halo  of  ad 
miration  with  which  we  surround  the  names  of  these 
conquerors,  do  we  not  thoughtlessly  lose  sight  of  the 
horror  and  misery  which  strews  the  path  to  their  great 
ness  ?  The  wars  waged  by  them,  what  were  they  but 
heaps  of  slaughter  to  create  for  themselves  a  mon 
ument  of  military  fame?  Ambition — Self — was  the 
object  of  their  energies  !  Turning  from  these,  how  in 
finitely  more  of  intrinsic  worth  and  real  greatness, 
purity  of  purpose,  and  love  of  country,  are  we  called 
upon  to  admire  in  the  character  of  a  Washington  and 
a  Marion  !  "  The  characters  of  these,  judged  by  pos 
terity,  have  risen  in  the  estimation  of  men,  whilst  in 
the  career  of  Cromwell,  Marlborough,  Charles  XII, 
and  other  warriors,  it  is  prominently  glaring  how  pat 
riotism  dwindled  as  a  motive  until  utterly  lost  amidst 
baser  sentiments." 


APPENDIX. 


A.— PAGE.  45. 

AFTER  this,  Mr.  Bradley,  was  frequently  carted  to  the 
gallows  to  witness  the  execution  of  his  countrymen  as 
rebels,  and  told  to  prepare  for  a  similar  fate  next  time. 
On  such  occasions,  and  when  interrogated  at  courts- 
martial,  he  made  no  other  reply  than  that  "  I  am 
ready  and  willing  to  die  in  the  cause  of  my  country ; 
but  remember,  if  I  am  hanged,  I  have  many  friends  in 
General  Marion's  brigade,  and  my  death  will  occasion 
a  severe  retaliation."  Either  awed  by  his  virtues,  or 
apprehensive  of  consequences,  his  captors  did  not  ex 
ecute  their  threats.  His  life  was  spared,  but  he  was 
kept  in  irons  as  long  as  the  British  had  possession  of  the 
upper  country.  He  bore  the  marks  of  these  rugged 
instruments  of  confinement  till  the  day  of  his  death, 
and  would  occasionally  show  them  to  his  young  friends, 
with  a  request  "  that  if  the  good  of  their  country  re 
quired  the  sacrifice,  they  would  suffer  imprisonment 
and  death  in  its  cause." — Vide  RAMSAY,  vol.  2.  p.  403. 

B.— PAGE.  70. 

The  rapid  movements  of  Marion,  and  effectual  ser 
vice  he  rendered  the  patriotic  cause,  at  this  early  period 
of  his  military  career,  are  thus  mentioned  in  his  own 
official  correspondence  with  Gen.  Gates.  On  the  29th 
Aug.  1780,  he  writes  from  Pedee — "  As  the  militia 

167 


168  APPENDIX. 

is  not  under  my  command,  some  days  I  have  not  more 
than  a  dozen  with  me.  On  Sep.  4th,  marched  with 
53  men  to  attack  a  body  of  200  Tories,  who  intended 
to  surprise  me: — surprised  a  party  of  45,  killed  and 
wounded  all  but  fifteen,  who  escaped : — met  and  at 
tacked  the  main  body,  and  put  them  to  flight,  though 
they  had  200  men."—"  Marched  to  Black  Mingo,  Sept. 
24th,  where  was  a  guard  of  sixty  of  the  [royalist] 
militia; — attacked  them  on  the  28th; — killed  3,  wounded 
and  took  13  prisoners.  I  had  1  captain  and  1  private 
killed  ;  1  captain,  1  lieutenant,  and  6  privates  wounded; 
several  of  the  enemy  have  since  been  found  dead  in  a 
swamp  to  which  they  took.  So  many  of  my  men  were 
desirous  of  seeing  their  wives  and  families  which  have 
been  burnt  out,  that  I  found  it  necessary  to  retreat  next 
morning.  The  prisoners  taken  are  men  of  fortune  and 
family,  which  I  hope  will  check  the  militia  from  taking 
arms  against  us." — Vide  GORDON,  vol.  3.  p.  112. 

C.— PAGE.  77. 

Marion  writes  to  Gates,  Oct.  18th,  1780 — "I  have 
never  yet  had  more  than  70  men  to  act  with  me,  and 
sometimes  they  leave  me  to  20  or  30." — "  Nov.  4th. 
I  crossed  Pedee  the  24th  Oct ;  the  next  night  came  up 
with  200  men  under  Col.  Tynes,  whom  I  surprised ; 
killed  6,  wounded  14,  and  took  prisoners  23,  and  got 
80  horses  and  saddles,  and  as  many  stand  of  arms. 
The  Colonel  made  his  escape ;  but,  sending  a  party  to 
the  High  Hills  of  Santee,  he  fell  into  our  hands,  with 
several  other  prisoners,  and  some  who  have  heen  very 
active  against  us  and  great  plunderers.  The  militia 
are  now  turning  out  better  than  they  have  done.  At 
present  I  have  upwards  of  200  men,  and  expect  that 


APPENDIX.  169 

in  three  or  four  days  it  will  be  double." — "  Black-river, 
Nov.  9th,  Col  Tarieton  [with  his  corps]  has  burnt  all 
the  houses,  and  destroyed  all  the  corn,  from  Camden 
down  to  Nelson's  ferry ;  has  behaved  to  the  poor  wo 
men  with  great  barbarity  ;  beat  Mrs.  Richardson,  the 
relict  of  Gen.  Richardson,  to  make  her  tell  where  I 
was,  and  has  not  left  her  a  change  of  raiment.  He 
not  only  destroyed  all  the  corn,  but  burnt  a  number  of 
cattle  in  the  houses  he  fired.  It  is  distressing  to  see 
the  women  and  children  sitting  in  the  open  air  round  a 
fire  without  a  blanket,  and  women  of  family  and  that 
had  ample  fortunes ;  for  he  spares  neither  Whig  nor 
Tory.  Most  of  the  inhabitants  to  the  southward  are 
ready  and  eager  to  take  up  arms  against  their  task- 
masters." — "  Nov.  21st,  Tarieton  retreated  to  Camden, 
after  destroying  most  of  the  houses  and  provisions  on 
the  High  Hills  of  Santee.  I  am  obliged  to  act  with  so 
few,  as  not  to  have  it  in  my  power  to  do  any  thing 
effectual  for  want  of  men  and  ammunition." — GORDON, 
vol.  3.  p.  113. 

D.— PAGE.  93. 

The  distinction  of  Whig  and  Tory  took  its  rise 
from  the  very  beginning  of  the  Revolutionary  struggle. 
Both  parties  in  the  interior  country  were  then  embodied, 
and  were  obliged  to  impress  provisions  for  their  res 
pective  support.  The  advocates  for  Congress  prevail 
ing,  they  paid  for  articles  consumed  in  their  camps  ; 
but  as  no  funds  were  provided  for  discharging  the  ex 
penses  incurred  by  the  royalists,  all  that  was  consumed 
by  them  was  considered  as  robbery. 

This  laid  the  foundation  of  a  practical  war  between 
Whigs  and  Tories,  which  was  productive  of  great  dis- 
15 


170  APPENDIX. 

tress,  and  deluged  the  country  with  blood.  After  the 
capitulation  of  Charleston,  political  hatred  raged  with 
intense  fury.  In  numerous  instances  the  ties  of  nature 
were  dissolved.  Countrymen,  neighbors,  friends,  and 
brothers  took  different  sides.  In  every  little  precinct, 
more  especially  in  the  interior  parts  of  the  state, 
"  king's-men"  and  "  congress-men"  were  names  of 
distinction.  Bad  passions  on  both  sides  were  kept  in 
continual  agitation,  and  wrought  up  to  a  degree  of 
fury,  which  rendered  individuals  regardless  not  only 
of  the  laws  of  war,  but  of  the  principles  of  humanity. 
While  the  British  had  the  ascendency,  their  partizans 
gave  full  scope  to  their  interested  and  malicious  feel 
ings.  Persons  of  the  worst  character  emerged  from 
their  hiding-places  in  the  swamps,  called  themselves 
"  king's-men,"  and  appropriated  to  their  own  use 
whatever  came  in  their  way.  Every  act  of  cruelty 
and  injustice  was  lawful,  provided  the  actor  called 
himself  a  friend  to  the  king,  and  the  sufferer  was 
denominated  a  rebel. 

Of  those  who  were  well-disposed  to  the  patriotic  side 
of  the  contest,  few  were*,  o  be  found  who  had  not  their 
houses  and  plantations  repeatedly  rifled.  Under  the 
sanction  of  subduing  rebellion,  private  revenge  was  in 
numberless  instances  gratified  by  cold-blooded  murder. 
In  fact,  rapine,  outrage  and  murder,  became  so  fre 
quent  as  to  interrupt  the  free  intercourse  between  one 
place  and  another,  and  people  were  obliged  either  en 
tirely  to  abandon  their  home,  or  to  sleep  in  woods  and 
swamps.  RAMSAY,  vol.  2.  p.  446. 


APPENDIX.  171 

E.— PAGB  94. 


IN  consequence  of  the  civil  wars  between  Whigs  and 
Tories,  and  other  calamities,  resulting  from  the  opera 
tions  of  the  British  and  American  armies,  South  Caro 
lina  exhibited  scenes  of  distress  which  were  shocking  to 
humanity.  The  single  district  of  Ninety-Six  contained 
within  its  limits  fourteen  hundred  widows  and  orphans: 
made  so  by  the  war.  The  American  government  was 
suspended,  and  the  British  conquerors  were  careless  of 
the  civil  rights  of  the  inhabitants.  They  conducted  as 
though  interior  order  and  police  were  scarcely  objects 
of  attention.  The  will  of  the  strongest  was  the  law. 
Such  was  the  general  complexion  of  those  who  called 
themselves  Royalists,  that  nothing  could  be  expected 
of  them  but  outrages  against  the  peace  and  order  of 
society.  They  were  an  ignorant,  unprincipled  banditti, 
to  whom  idleness,  licentiousness,  and  deeds  of  violence, 
were  familiar ;  and  others  whose  atrocities  had  exiled 
them  from  society, 'attached  themselves  to  parties  of  the 
British ;  and  encouraged  by  their  example,  and  insti 
gated  by  the  love  of  plunder,  they  committed  the  most 
extensive  depredations.  Under  the  cloak  of  attachment 
to  the  old  government,  they  covered  the  basest  and  most 
selfish  purposes.  The  necessity  which  their  indiscrimi 
nate  plundering  imposed  on  all  good  men  of  defending 
themselves,  did  infinitely  more  damage  to  the  Royal 
cause  than  was  compensated  by  all  the  advantages  re 
suiting  from  their  friendship. — Vide  RAMSAY,  vol.  2, 
p.  452. 


172  APPENDIX. 

R— PAGE  111. 

Lord  Corn  wall  is,  after  the  action  with  Greene  near 
Guilford  Court  House,  crossing  Deep-river,  marched  for 
Wilmington,  and  afterwards  concluded  upon  marching 
to  Virginia.  He  arrived  at  Petersburg  on  the  20th  of 
May  1781.  The  young  Marquis  de  La  Fayette  com 
manded  the  American  army,  and  so  superior  to  the 
American  force  did  Cornwallis  feel  himself,  that  he  ex- 
ulted  in  the  prospect  of  success,  and  despising  the  youth 
of  La  Fayette,  he  unguardedly  wrote  to  Great  Britain 
"  the  boy  cannot  escape  me"  La  Fayette's  little  army 
consisted  of  1000  continentals,  2000  militia,  and  60 
dragoons.  Cornwallis  proceeded  from  Petersburg  to 
James  river,  which  he  crossed  in  order  to  dislodge  La 
Fayette  from  Richmond  :  it  was  evacuated  on  the  27th. 
His  lordship  then  marched  through  Hanover  county, 
and  crossed  the  South  Anna  river ;  La  Fayette  con 
stantly  following  his  motions,  but  at  a  guarded  distance 
in  every  part  of  his  progress.  His  lordship  at  one  time 
planned  the  surprisal  of  the  Marquis  ;  but  was  diverted 
from  his  intention  by  a  spy,  whom  the  latter  had  sent 
into  the  British  camp.  The  following  account  of  the 
manner  in  which  this  spy  got  into  the  camp  and  out 
again  is  not  without  interest. 

Very  desirous  of  obtaining  full  intelligence  concern 
ing  the  movements  of  his  enemy,  La  Fayette  had  con 
cluded  upon  prevailing,  if  possible,  upon  one  Charles 
(generally  called  Charley)  Morgan,  a  Jersey  soldier,  of 
whom  he  entertained  a  favorable  opinion,  to  turn  de 
serter,  and  go  over  to  the  British  army,  in  order  to  his 
executing  the  business  of  a  spy  the  more  effectually. 
Charley  was  sent  for,  and  agreed  to  undertake  the  haz 
ardous  employ ;  but  insisted  that  in  case  he  should  be 


APPENDIX.  178 

discovered  and  hanged,  La  Fayette,  to  secure  his  repu 
tation,  should  have  it  inserted  in  the  Jersey  paper  that 
he  was  sent  upon  the  service  by  his  Commander.  This 
was  promised  him.*  Charley  then  deserted,  and,  when 
he  had  reached  the  royal  army,  was  carried  before 
Corn  wallis,  who  inquired  into  the  reason  of  his  deserting. 

"  I  have  been,  my  lord,"  said  Charley,  "  with  the 
American  army  from  the  beginning,  and  while  under 
Gen.  Washington,  was  satisfied  ;  but  being  put  under  a 
Frenchman,  I  do  not  like  it,  and  have  left  the  service." 

Cornwallis  commended  and  rewarded  his  conduct. 
Charley  was  very  diligent  in  the  discharge  of  his  mili 
tary  duty,  and  was  not  in  the  least  suspected ;  but  at 
the  same  time  carefully  observed  all  that  passed.  One 
day,  while  on  duty  with  his  comrades,  Cornwallis,  in 
close  conversation  with  some  of  his  officers,  called 
Charley  to  him  and  said, 

"  How  long  time  will  it  take  the  Marquis  de  La  Fay 
ette  to  cross  James  river?" 

Charley  paused  for  a  moment,  and  answered,  "Three 
hours,  my  lord." 

"  Three  hours  !  why  it  will  take  three  days." 

"  No,  my  lord,"  said  Charley,  "  the  Marquis  has  so 
many  boats,  and  each  boat  will  carry  so  many  men. 
If  your  lordship  will  be  at  the  trouble  of  calculating,  you 
will  find  he  can  cross  in  three  hours." 

Cornwallis  turned  to  the  officers,  and  in  the  hearing 
of  Charley  remarked,  "  The  scheme  will  not  do." 

Charley  concluded  that  this  was  the  time  for  his  re 
turning  to  the  American  camp.  He,  as  soon  as  possi 
ble,  plied  his  comrades  with  grog  till  they  were  well 
warmed,  and  then  opened  his  masked  battery.  He 
complained  of  the  wants  that  prevailed  in  the  British 
camp,  commended  the  supplies  with  which  the  Ameri- 
15* 


174  APPENDIX. 

cans  abounded,  expressed  his  inclination  to  return,  and 
then  asked,  "  What  say  you,  will  you  go  with  me  ?" 
They  agreed.  It  was  left  to  him  to  manage  with  the 
sentinels.  To  the  first  he  offered,  in  a  very  friendly 
manner,  the  taking  of  a  draught  of  rum  from  his  can 
teen.  While  the  fellow  was  drinking,  Charley  secured 
his  arms,  and  then  proposed  his  deserting  with  them, 
to  which  he  consented  through  necessity.  The  second 
was  served  in  like  manner,  and  Charley  by  his  manage 
ment  carried  off  seven  deserters  with  him.  When  he 
had  reached  the  American  army,  and  was  brought  into 
the  presence  of  La  Fayette,  the  Marquis,  upon  seeing 
him,  cried  out  "  Ha  !  Charley,  are  you  got  back  ?" 

"  Yes,  and  please  your  Excellency,  and  have  brought 
seven  more  with  me,"  was  Charley's  respectful  answer. 

When  Charley  had  related  the  reason  of  his  return 
ing,  and'  the  observations  he  had  made,  the  Marquis 
offered  him  money.  But  Charley  declined  it,  and  only 
desired  to  have  his  gun  again.  The  Marquis  proposed 
to  promote  him  to  the  rank  of  a  corporal  or  sergeant. 

"  I  will  not  have  any  promotion,  your  Excellency," 
Charley  replied.  "  I  have  abilities  for  a  common  sol 
dier,  and  have  a  good  character.  Should  I  be  promoted, 
my  abilities  may  not  answer,  and  I  might  lose  my 
character."  He,  however,  nobly  requested  for  his  fel 
low-soldiers,  who  were  not  so  well  supplied  with  shoes, 
stockings  and  clothing  as  himself,  that  the  Marquis 
would  promise  to  do  what  he  could  to  relieve  their  dis 
tress. —  Vide  GORDON,  vol.  3,  p.  207. 

G.— PAGE  151. 

This  treason  had  for  its  object  the  purpose  of  seizing 
Gen.  Greene  and  delivering  him  over  to  the  British. 
Four  sergeants  of  the  Pennsylvania  line,  headed  by  one 


APPENDIX.  175 

named  Gornell,  and  a  few  others,  were  concerned  in 
this  conspiracy.  Gornell  was  a  soldier  heretofore  much 
esteemed,  and  possessed  talents  adapted  to  enterprize. 
It  was  discovered,  the  night  before  they  were  to  put 
their  meditated  treachery  into  execution,  that  Gornell, 
and  his  associates,  held  continual  correspondence  with 
the  enemy.  Greene,  acting  with  his  customary  de 
cision,  ordered  the  arrest  and  trial  of  Gornell.  This 
was  immediately  done ;  and  the  prisoner  being  by  the 
court-martial  condemned  to  die,  the  sentence  of  the 
court  was  carried  into  effect  on  the  22d  of  April  1782. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  NOTICES. 


WILLIAM  MOULTRIE,  was  a  native  of  Great  Britain, 
but  emigrated  to  South  Carolina  at  an  early  age.  He 
served  with  distinction  in  the  Cherokee  war  in  1760, 
and  in  its  last  campaign  commanded  a  company. 
When  difficulties  occurred  between  the  Mother  Country 
and  her  Colonies  in  North  America,  he  zealously  es 
poused  the  cause  of  the  latter,  and,  at  the  commence 
ment  of  the  Revolution,  we  find  him  a  member  of  the 
Provincial  Congress,  and  a  colonel  of  the  second  South 
Carolina  regiment.  For  his  brave  defence  of  Sullivan's 
Island,  he  received  the  thanks  of  Congress,  and  the 
fort  was  afterwards  called  by  his  name.  In  1779  he 
gained  a  victory  over  the  British  at  Beaufort.  He 
afterwards  received  the  commission  of  major-general, 
and  was  second  in  command  to  Gen.  Lincoln  at  the 
siege  of  Charleston.  After  the  close  of  the  war  he 
was  repeatedly  elected  governor  of  South  Carolina. 
He  published  "  Memoirs  of  the  Revolution  in  the  Caro- 
linas  and  Georgia,"  and  died  at  Charleston  in  1805. 


BENJAMIN  LINCOLN,  was  born  at  Hingham,  Mas 
sachusetts,  in  1733,  and  was  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits  until  he  was  forty  years  old.  At  the  com 
mencement  of  the  Revolution,  he  was  elected  a  mem 
ber  of  the  Provincial  Congress  ;  received  the  commission 
of  major-general  in  1776,  and  vigorously  employed 

176 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES.  177 

himself  in  improving  the  discipline  of  the  militia.  He 
was  second  in  command  in  the  army  which  compelled 
the  surrender  of  Burgoyne,  at  Saratoga,  in  October 
1777.  On  the  day  after  the  battle  of  Still  water,  he 
received  a  dangerous  wound  in  one  of  his  legs,  and 
was  confined  for  several  months  by  its  effects.  He 
was  subsequently  appointed  to  the  command  of  the 
Southern  department,  and  while  in  this  post  attempted 
the  defence  of  Charleston,  but  capitulated  in  May  1780. 
He  was  a  prisoner  until  the  November  following,  when 
he  was  exchanged,  and  in  the  year  following  he  joined 
the  army  on  the  North  River,  NT.  Y.  Gen.  Washington 
placed  great  confidence  in  his  military  talents,  and  at 
the  siege  of  Yorktovvn  he  commanded  a  central  division, 
sharing  largely  in  the  dangers  and  honors  of  the  day. 
In  1781,  he  was  appointed  secretary  of  the  war  depart 
ment,  and  on  several  occasions  commissioner  to  treat 
with  the  Indians.  Peace  being  concluded,  he  returned 
to  Massachusetts,  and  in  1786  was  appointed  to  com 
mand  the  troops  employed  in  the  suppression  of  the 
insurgents  in  that  state.  The  insurgents,  commanded 
by  Daniel  Shays,  were  dispersed,  and  a  few  killed. 
In  1788,  he  was  chosen  lieutenant-governor  of  Mas 
sachusetts,  and  in  1789  he  was  a  member  of  the  con 
vention  which  ratified  the  constitution  of  the  United 
States.  He  passed  his  days  with  honor,  and  closed 
his  useful  career  in  1810.  He  was  the  author  of  sev 
eral  interesting  papers  ;  was  a  member  of  the  Academy 
of  Arts  and  Sciences,  etc. 


JOHN  RUTLEDGE,  one  of  the  earliest  patriots  of  the 
Revolution,  in  which  he  took  an  active  part,  and  ren- 


178  BIOGRAPHICAL   NOTICES. 

dered  his  countrymen,  the  most  effecient  services.  He 
was  a  member  of  Congress,  in  1774;  commander-in- 
chief  of  the  province  of  South  Carolina,  in  1776  ;  gov 
ernor  of  it  under  the  new  constitution,  in  1779  ;  judge 
of  the  court  of  chancery  in  1784 ;  judge  of  the  Su 
preme  Court  of  the  United  States,  in  1789;  chief  jus 
tice  of  South  Carolina,  in  1791  ;  and  chief  justice  of 
the  United  States,  in  1796.  His  whole  life,  public  and 
private,  was  that  of  a  pure  patriot  and  upright  citizen. 
His  death  occurred  in  1800. 


AUGUSTUS  DE  KALB,  a  German  nobleman,  entered 
the  French  service,  and  afterwards  came  to  America. 
He  received  the  rank  of  major-general  in  the  army  under 
Washington,  and  gained  a  high  reputation  as  an  officer. 
He  fell,  fighting  desperately  at  the  head  of  his  soldiers, 
at  the  battle  near  Camden,  in  August  1780.  As  an 
officer  he  was  brave  and  skillful,  and  universally  be 
loved  by  those  under  his  command. 


HORATIO  GATES,  was  an  Englishman  by  birth, 
(born  in  1728,)  and,  having  very  early  in  life  entered 
the  British  army,  rose  by  his  merits  to  the  rank  of 
major.  He  was  under  the  command  of  Braddock  in 
that  unfortunate  officer's  expedition  against  Fort  Du- 
quesne,  and  received  in  the  famous  battle  with  the  In 
dians  a  severe  wound,  which  debarred  him  from  active 
service  for  some  time.  He  settled  in  Virginia,  where 
he  resided  till  the  commencement  of  the  Revolution. 
Congress  appointed  him,  in  1775,  adjutant-general, 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES.  179 

with  the  rank  of  brigadier,  and  in  1776,  he  received 
the  command  of  the  army  in  Canada.  In  October 
1777,  he  captured  the  army  under  Burgoyne.  In  1780, 
he  was  appointed  to  the  chief  command  of  the  Southern 
department,  but  proved  unsuccessful,  and  was  super 
seded  by  Gen.  Greene.  He  was  restored  to  his  com 
mand  in  1782.  After  the  war,  he  resided  on  his  farm 
in  Virginia  for  several  years,  but  removed  in  1790  to 
New  York,  where  he  lived  much  esteemed  and  res 
pected.  He  died  in  1806. 


COUNT  PULASKI,  was  a  native  of  Poland,  a  celebrated 
soldier ;  and  he  made  brave,  though  successful,  efforts 
to  restore  his  country  to  independence.  During  the 
Revolution  he  came  to  America,  and  received  the  rank 
of  brigadier-general  in  the  American  army.  At  the 
attack  on  Savannah  in  1779,  he  was  so  seriously 
wounded  that  he  survived  but  a  short  time.  Congress 
voted  to  erect  a  monument  to  his  memory. 


CHARLES  HENRY,  COUNT  D'ESTAIGN,  a  French  ad 
miral,  born  in  Auvergne.  He  was  under  Lally  in  the 
East  Indies,  and  escaped  from  an  English  prison  by 
breaking  his  parole.  He  was  commander  of  the  French 
squadrons  sent  to  assist  the  Americans,  in  their  Revo 
lutionary  struggle,  and  was  gullotined  during  the  Reign 
of  Terror,  arising  out  of  the  French  Revolution.  He 
suffered  in  1783. 


180  BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES. 

CHARLES  CORNWALLIS,  son  of  the  first  Earl  of 
Cornwallis,  was  born  in  1738 ;  educated  at  Westmin 
ster,  and  St.  John's  College,  Cambridge,  and  then  en 
tered  the  British  army.  In  1761  he  succeeded  to  the 
title.  During  the  Revolution,  he  commanded  in  the 
Southern  states,  and  signalized  himself  at  the  siege  of 
Charleston ;  but  was  surrounded  at  Yorktovvn  and 
compelled  to  capitulate.  From  1786  to  1792,  he  was 
governor-general  of,  and  commander-in-chief  in,  the 
British  Indies.  From  1798  to  1801,  he  was  lord-lieu 
tenant  of  Ireland.  The  treaty  of  Amiens,  in  1802,  was 
signed  by  him.  In  1804  he  was  again  made  governor- 
general  of  India,  and  died  in  the  fol'owing  year,  at 
Ghazepore,  in  the  province  of  Benares.  Sound  prac 
tical  sense,  not  brilliant  talent,  was  the  characteristic  of 
Cornwallis. 


SIR  HENRY  CLINTON,  born  in  England,  entered  the 
British  army,  served  in  the  Hanoverian  war ;  he  was 
sent  to  America  in  1775,  with  the  rank  of  major-gen 
eral.  He  distinguished  himself  at  the  battle  of  Bunker 
Hill,  evacuated  Philadelphia  in  1778,  and  took  Charles 
ton  in  1780  ;  for  this  last  service  he  was  thanked  by  the 
House  of  Commons.  He  returned  to  England  1782, 
and  soon  after  published  an  account  of  the  "  Campaign 
in  1781 — 83,"  which  Cornwallis  answered,  and  to 
which  Sir  Henry  replied.  He  was  governor  of  Gibral- 
ter  in  1795,  and  died  soon  after. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES.  181 

NATHANIEL  GREENE,  was  born  at  Warwick,  Rhode 
Island,  in  1741,  and  though  he  enjoyed  but  limited  op 
portunities  of  education,  he  early  displayed  a  love  of 
study,  and  industriously  applied  himself  to  the  acquisi 
tion  of  such  knowledge  as  was  within  his  reach.  He 
was  elected  to  the  state  legislature  in  1770.  In  1774 
he  enrolled  himself  as  a  private  in  a  company  called 
the  Kentish  guards,  and  from  this  situation  he  was  ele 
vated  to  the  command  of  three  regiments,  with  the  title 
of  major-general.  In  1776,  he  accepted  from  Congress 
a  commission  of  brigadier-general,  and  distinguished 
himself  by  his  skill  and  bravery  at  the  battles  of  Trenton 
and  Princeton.  In  1778  he  was  appointed  quarter 
master  general,  and  rendered  great  service  in  the  office 
by  his  talents  for  business.  He  presided  at  the  court- 
martial  which  tried  Major  Andre,  and  was  appointed  to 
succeed  the  traitorous  Arnold  in  command  at  West 
Point.  But  he  held  this  post  only  a  brief  time,  being 
appointed  in  that  year  (1780)  to  the  command  of  the 
Southern  army.  He  assumed  the  command  in  Decem 
ber,  and  in  this  situation  displayed  a  prudence,  intrepi 
dity  and  firmness  that  elevated  him  to  the  first  rank 
among  the  officers  of  the  American  Revolution.  In 
September  1781,  he  commanded  at  the  famous  victory 
of  Eutaw  Springs,  for  which  he  received  from  Congress 
a  British  standard  and  a  gold  medal,  as  a  testimony  of 
their  value  of  his  conduct  and  services.  On  the  termi 
nation  of  hostilities,  he  returned  to  Rhode  Island,  and 
in  1785  removed  with  his  family  to  Georgia,  where  he 
died  suddenly  in  June  (the  19th)  of  the  following  year. 
South  Carolina  had  presented  him  with  an  estate  worth 
£10.000;  Georgia,  with  an  estate  a  few  miles  from 
Savannah,  worth  £5.000 ;  and  North  Carolina,  with 
25.000  acres  of  land  in  the  state  of  Tennessee. 
16 


182  BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES. 

HENRY  LEE,  a  Virginian,  born  in  1756,  graduated 
at  Princeton  college,  and  in  1776  was  captain  of  one 
of  the  six  companies  of  cavalry  raised  by  his  native 
state.  These  were  afterwards  embodied  into  one  regi 
ment,  and  added,  in  1777,  to  the  main  body  of  the  pro 
vincials.  At  the  battle  of  Germantown,  Lee  was  se 
lected  with  his  company  to  attend  Washington  as  his 
body-guard.  In  1780,  with  the  rank  of  lieutenant- 
colonel,  he  was  sent  with  his  legion  to  the  army  of  the 
south,  and  continued  with  it  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
In  1786  he  was  a  delegate  to  Congress  from  the  state 
of  Virginia,  and  remained  in  that  body  until  the  adoption 
of  the  present  constitution.  In  1792  he  was  honored 
with  the  governor's  chair  of  his  native  state,  and  in 
1799  was  again  a  member  of  Congress,  and  while 
there  he  was  selected  to  pronounce  a  funeral  oration 
upon  the  death  of  Washington.  In  the  latter  years  of 
his  life  he  became  embarrassed  in  his  circumstances. 
He  was  severely  wounded  during  the  riot  in  Baltimore, 
1814,  and  his  health  declined.  His  death  took  place 
in  1818.  It  was  while  confined  for  debt  within  the 
limits  of  Spottsylvania  county,  that  he  prepared  for 
publication  his  "  Memoirs  of  the  Southern  War,"  pub 
lished  in  1812  ;  and  from  which  excellent  work  a  great 
amount  of  information  has  been  obtained  for  the  present 
compilation. 

THOMAS  SUMPTER,  a  very  distinguished  soldier  of 
the  war  in  the  southern  states,  was  born  in  1735. 
Governor  Rutledge  appointed  him  brigadier-general  in 
1780,  and  his  military  career  was  bold  and  brilliant. 
He  took  his  seat  in  the  United  States  senate,  in  1811, 
as  a  senator  from  the  state  of  South  Carolina.  He 
died  at  the  age  of  97  in  1832. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES.  183 

OTHO  HOLLAND  WILLIAMS,  a  native  of  Virginia, 
born  in  1748.  A  company  of  riflemen  was  raised  in 
Frederick  county  at  the  beginning  of  the  Revolution, 
to  which  he  was  given  the  command,  and  he  at  once 
repaired  to  the  American  camp  near  Boston.  At  the 
capture  of  Fort  Washington  in  New  York,  Williams 
was  taken  prisoner.  After  being  exchanged,  he  com 
manded  the  6th  Maryland  regiment,  and  was  detached 
to  South  Carolina,  and,  with  the  rank  of  adjutant-gen 
eral,  he  continued  to  participate  with  zeal  and  activity 
in  the  dangers  of  the  campaign.  He  was  subsequently 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  brigadier-general.  He  died 
in  1794. 


WILLIAM  RICHARDSON  DAVIE,  was  born  in  Eng 
land,  brought  to  America  in  his  childhood,  and  educated 
at  Princeton  college,  where  he  graduated  in  1776.  He 
studied  law  for  a  short  time,  but  such  was  his  interest 
in  the  Revolution,  he  entered  the  army  as  a  lieutenant 
in  Count  Pulaski's  legion,  and  distinguished  himself  by 
his  efficiency  and  courage.  After  the  war,  he  devoted 
himself  to  the  practice  of  law ;  and  in  1787,  he  was 
chosen  a  delegate  from  South  Carolina  to  represent  that 
State  in  the  Convention  which  framed  the  Constitution 
of  the  United  States.  Unavoidable  absence  prevented 
him  from  affixing  his  name  to  that  instrument.  He 
was  afterwards  governor  of  North  Carolina,  etc.  His 
death  occurred  in  1820.  His  person  was  dignified  ;  as 
a  soldier  no  man  was  ever  more  courageous  ;  his  legal 
abilities  were  more  than  ordinary. 


184  BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES. 

JOHN  EAGER  HOWARD,  a  native  of  Baltimore  city, 
born  in  1752.  He  was  one  of  the  most  distinguished 
officers  of  the  American  Revolution,  and  at  the  battle 
of  Cowpens,  he  had  in  his  hands  the  swords  of  seven 
British  officers,  who  had  surrendered  to  him  personally. 
After  the  war  he  resided  on  his  estate,  near  Baltimore, 
and  the  citizens  of  Maryland  subsequently  elected  him 
to  the  dignity  of  governor  of  their  state,  and  he  was 
also  a  member  of  the  United  States'  Senate.  He  died 
at  the  age  of  seventy-five  in  1827.  "  As  a  patriot  and 
a  soldier,"  said  Gen.  Greene,  "  Colonel  Howard  de 
served  a  statue  of  gold  no  less  than  Roman  and  Grecian 
heroes." 


WILLIAM  WASHINGTON,  born  in  Virginia,  served 
in  the  Revolutionary  war  from  the  commencement  of 
the  contest,  received  a  wound  at  the  battle  of  Trenton, 
distinguished  himself  in  the  Southern  campaigns,  and 
commanded  the  cavalry  at  the  battle  of  Cowpens.  For 
his  bravery  and  military  skill  at  this  battle,  Congress 
presented  him  with  a  sword.  It  was  his  misfortune  to 
be  wounded  and  taken  prisoner  at  Eutaw  Springs, 
which  deprived  his  country  of  his  services  for  the  re 
mainder  of  the  war.  He  remained  a  prisoner  until  the 
conclusion  of  the  war,  after  which  he  married,  and 
settled  in  South  Carolina ;  in  the  legislature  of  which 
state  he  exhibited  the  talents  and  virtues  of  an  honest 
statesman.  His  death  took  place  in  1810. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES.  185 

FRANCIS  HASTINGS,  LORD  RAWDON,  son  of  the  Earl 
of  Moira,  in  Ireland,  and  born  in  1754,  educated  at  Ox 
ford,  travelled  on  the  continent  of  Europe,  and  entered 
the  British  army  as  an  ensign.  He  was  among  the 
troops  sent  to  America  at  the  commencement  of  the 
Revolution,  and  took  part  in  the  engagement  at 
Bunker's  Hill.  He  subsequently  commanded  in  South 
Carolina,  where  he  displayed  considerable  valor,  and 
was  perhaps  the  most  efficient  of  the  British  officers  in 
the  Southern  war.  Illness  obliged  him  to  embark  for 
Europe ;  on  the  passage  the  ship  in  which  he  sailed 
was  captured  by  the  French,  and  taken  into  Brest ;  he 
was  soon  released,  and  reached  England,  and  was  re 
warded  for  his  exertions  in  America  by  being  created 
a  peer.  In  parliament  he  distinguished  himself,  and  in 
1793,  upon  the  death  of  his  father,  he  succeeded  to  the 
title  of  Earl  Moira.  In  1794,  with  the  rank  of  major- 
general,  he  commanded,  under  the  duke  of  York,  against 
the  French  armies  in  Holland.  The  Whigs -wished  to 
place  him  at  the  head  of  the  ministry  in  1797,  but 
were  unsuccessful.  In  1812,  having  for  several  years 
previous  been  employed  in  political  negotiations,  he  re 
ceived  the  appointment  of  governor-general  of  British 
India,  in  which  office  he  evidenced  great  abilities.  He 
resigned  in  1822,  and  returned  to  England.  After 
which  he  was  appointed  governor  of  the  island  of  Malta. 
He  died  in  Nov.  1825. 


JOHN  LAURENS,  son  of  Henry  Laurens,  the  Ameri 
can  patriot  and  statesman,  was  liberally  educated  in 
England,  and,  having  returned  to  his  native  country, 
joined  the  American  army  in  1777.     He  displayed  pro- 
16* 


186  BIOGRAPHICAL   NOTICES. 

digies  of  valor  at  Brandy  wine,  German  town,  Monmouth, 
Savannah  and  Charleston,  and  was  killed  at  the  very 
close  of  the  war  in  a  slight  skirmish.  In  1780,  he  was 
sent  as  a  special  minister  to  France  to  negotiate  a  loan, 
and,  after  being  subjected  to  a  vexatious  delay,  he  de 
termined  to  present  a  memorial  to  the  king  in  person 
at  the  levee.  This  purpose  he  carried  into  effect:  the 
memorial  was  graciously  received  by  Louis  XVI.,  and 
the  object  of  negotiation  satisfactorily  arranged.  He 
was  but  twenty-seven  years  old  at  the  time  of  his  death 
in  1782. 


GEORGE  WASHINGTON,  the  illustrious  founder  of 
American  independence,  was  born  in  1732,  in  the 
county  of  Fairfax,  in  Virginia,  where  his  father  was 
possessed  of  great  landed  property.  He  was  educated 
under  the  care  of  a  private  tutor,  and  paid  much  atten 
tion  to  the  study  of  mathematics  and  engineering.  He 
was  first  employed  officially  by  General  Dinwiddie, 
in  1753,  in  remonstrating  to  the  French  commander 
on  the  Ohio,  for  the  infraction  of  the  treaty  between 
the  two  nations.  He  subsequently  negotiated  a  treaty 
of  amity  with  the  Indians  on  the  back  settlements,  and 
for  his  honorable  services  received  the  thanks  of  the 
British  Government.  In  the  unfortunate  expedition 
of  General  Braddock  he  served  as  aid-de-camp,  and  on 
the  fall  of  that  brave  but  rash  commander,  he  conducted 
the  retreat  to  the  corps  under  Colonel  Dunbar  in  a 
manner  that  displayed  great  military  talent.  He  re 
tired  from  the  service  with  the  rank  of  colonel,  but 
while  engaged  in  agriculture  at  his  favorite  seat  of 
Mount  Vernon,  he  was  elected  senator  in  the  national 


BIOGRAPHICAL   NOTICES.  187 

council  for  Frederic  county,  and  afterwards  for  Fair 
fax.  At  the  commencement  of  the  revolutionary  war, 
he  was  selected  as  the  most  proper  person  to  take  the 
chief  command  of  the  provincial  troops.  From  the 
moment  of  taking  upon  himself  this  important  office, 
in  June,  1775,  he  employed  the  great  powers  of  his 
mind  to  his  favorite  object,  and  by  his  prudence,  his 
valor,  and  presence  of  mind  he  deserved  and  obtained 
the  confidence  and  gratitude  of  his  country,  and  finally 
triumphed  over  all  opposition.  The  record  of  his 
services  is  the  history  of  the  whole  war.  He  joined 
the  army  at  Cambridge  in  July,  1775.  On  the  evacua 
tion  of  Boston  in  March,  1776,  he  proceeded  to  New 
York.  The  battle  of  Long  Island  was  fought  on  the 
27th  of  August,  and  the  battle  of  White  Plains  on  the 
28th  of  October.  On  the  25th  of  December  he  crossed 
the  Delaware,  and  soon  gained  the  victories  at  Trenton 
and  Princeton.  The  battle  of  Brandy  wine  was  fought 
on  September  llth,  1777;  of  Germantown,  October 
4th;  of  Monmouth,  February  28th,  1778.  In  1779 
and  1780  he  continued  in  the  vicinity  of  New  York, 
and  closed  the  important  military  operations  of  the  war 
by  the  capture  of  Cornwallis,  at  Yorktown,  in  1781. 
When  the  independence  of  his  country  was  established 
by  the  treaty  of  peace,  Washington  resigned  his  high 
office  to  the  congress,  and,  followed  by  the  applause, 
and  the  grateful  admiration  of  his  fellow-citizens,  re 
tired  into  private  life.  His  high  character  and  services 
naturally  entitled  him  to  the  highest  gifts  his  country 
could  bestow,  and  on  the  organization  of  the  govern 
ment  he  was  called  upon  to  be  the  first  president  of  the 
states  which  he  had  preserved  and  established.  It  was 
a  period  of  great  difficulty  and  danger.  The  unsub 
dued  spirit  of  liberty  had  been  roused  and  kindled  by 


188  BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES. 

the  revolution  of  France,  and  many  Americans  were 
eager  that  the  freedom  and  equality  which  they  them 
selves  enjoyed  should  be  extended  to  the  subjects  of 
the  French  monarch.  Washington  anticipated  the 
plans  of  the  factious,  and  by  prudence  and  firmness 
subdued  insurrection,  and  silenced  discontent,  till  the 
parties  which  the  intrigues  of  Genet  the  French  envoy 
had  roused  to  rebellion,  were  convinced  of  the  wildness 
of  their  measures  and  of  the  wisdom  of  their  governor. 
The  president  completed,  in  1796,  the  business  of  his 
office  by  signing  a  commercial  treaty  with  Great 
Britain,  and  then  voluntarily  resigned  his  power  at  a 
moment  when  all  hands  and  all  hearts  were  united,  again 
to  confer  upon  him  the  sovereignty  of  the  country. 
Restored  to  the  peaceful  retirement  of  Mount  Vernon, 
he  devoted  himself  to  the  pursuits  of  agriculture;  and 
though  he  accepted  the  command  of  the  army  in  1798, 
it  was  merely  to  unite  the  affections  of  his  fellow 
citizens  to  the  general  good,  and  was  one  more  sacrifice 
to  his  high  sense  of  duty.  He  died  after  a  short  ill 
ness  on  the  14th  of  December,  1799.  He  was  buried 
with  the  honors  due  to  the  noble  founder  of  a  happy 
and  prosperous  republic.  History  furnishes  no  parallel 
to  the  character  of  Washington.  He  stands  on  an  un- 
approached  eminence ;  distinguishad  almost  beyond 
humanity  for  self-command,  intrepidity,  soundness  of 
judgment,  rectitude  of  purpose,  and  deep  ever  active 
piety. 


JOHN  CADWALADER,  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  and 
rose  to  the  rank  of  brigadier-general  in  the  American 
army  during  the  revolutionary  war.  He  was  a  man 


BIOGRAPHICAL   NOTICES.  189 

of  inflexible  courage,  and  possessed  in  a  high  degree 
the  esteem  and  confidence  of  Washington.  In  1778, 
he  was  appointed  by  Congress  general  of  cavalry,  an 
appointment  which  he  declined  on  the  score  of  being 
more  useful  in  the  situation  he  then  occupied.  After 
the  war  he  was  a  member  of  the  assembly  of  Mary 
land,  and  died  in  1786,  in  the  44th  year  of  his  age. 


CHARLES  LEE,  a  major-general  in  the  army  of  the 
American  revolution,  was  born  in  North  Wales,  and 
became  an  officer  when  very  young.  He  served  at 
an  early  age  in  America,  and  afterwards  distinguished 
himself  under  General  Burgoyne,  in  Portugal.  He 
subsequently  entered  the  Polish  service,  wandered  all 
over  Europe,  killed  an  Italian  officer  in  a  duel,  and  in 
1773  sailed  for  New  York.  Espousing  the  cause  of 
the  colonies,  he  received  a  commission  from  Congress 
in  1775,  with  the  rank  of  major-general.  In  1776  he 
was  invested  with  the  command  at  New  York,  and 
afterwards  with  the  chief  command  in  the  southern 
department.  In  December,  1776,  he  was  made 
prisoner  by  the  English,  as  he  lay  carelessly  guarded 
at  a  considerable  distance  from  the  main  body  of  the 
army  in  New  Jersey.  He  was  kept  prisoner  till  the 
surrender  of  Burgoyne,  in  1777,  and  treated  in  a  man 
ner  unworthy  of  a  generous  enemy.  In  1778,  he  was 
arraigned  before  a  court-martial,  in  consequence  of  his 
misconduct  at  the  battle  of  Monmouth,  and  was  sus 
pended  from  any  commission  in  the  army  of  the 
United  States  for  one  year.  He  retired  to  a  hovel  in 
Virginia,  living  in  entire  seclusion,  surrounded  by  his 
books  and  his  dogs.  In  1782,  he  went  to  reside  at 


190  BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES. 

Philadelphia,  where  he  died  in  obscurity  in  October 
of  the  same  year.  He  was  a  man  of  much  energy 
and  courage,  with  considerable  literary  attainments, 
but  morose  and  avaricious.  He  published  essays  on 
military,  literary  and  political  subjects,  which  with  his 
extensive  correspondence  were  collected  in  a  volume 
in  1792.  The  authorship  of  the  Letters  of  Junius  has 
been  ascribed  to  him. 


RICHARD  HENRY  LEE,  an  eminent  American  patriot, 
and  signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  was 
born  in  Virginia  in  1732,  and  received  his  education 
in  England.  He  returned  to  his  native  country  when 
in  his  nineteenth  year,  and  devoted  himself  to  the 
general  study  of  history,  politics,  law,  and  polite  litera 
ture,  without  engaging  in  any  particular  profession. 
In  his  25th  year,  he  was  chosen  a  delegate  to  the  house 
of  burgesses,  where  he  soon  distinguished  himself  by 
his  powers  in  debate.  In  1764,  he  was  appointed  to 
draught  an  address  to  the  king,  and  a  memorial  to  the 
house  of  lords,  which  are  amongst  the  best  state  papers 
of  the  period.  His  efforts  in  resisting  the  various  en 
croachments  of  the  British  government  were  indefati 
gable,  and  in  1774  he  attended  the  first  general  Congress 
at  Philadelphia,  as  a  delegate  from  Virginia.  He  was 
a  member  of  most  of  the  important  committees  of  this 
body,  and  laboured  with  unceasing  vigilance  and 
energy.  The  memorial  of  Congress  to  the  people  of 
British  America,  and  the  second  address  of  Congress 
to  the  people  of  Great  Britain,  were  both  from  his  pen. 
In  June,  1776,  he  introduced  the  measure  that  de 
clared  the  colonies  free  and  independent  states,  and 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES.  191 

supported  it  by  a  speech  of  the  most  brilliant  eloquence. 
He  continued  to  hold  a  seat  in  Congress  till  June, 
1777,  when  he  solicited  leave  of  absence,  on  account 
of  the  delicate  state  of  his  health.  In  August  of  the 
next  year,  he  was  again  elected  to  Congress,  and  con 
tinued  in  that  body  till  1780,  when  he  declined  a  re 
election  till  1784.  In  that  year  he  was  chosen  presi 
dent  of  Congress,  but  retired  at  the  close  of  it,  and  in 
1786  was  again  chosen  a  member  of  the  Virginia 
assembly.  He  was  a  member  of  the  convention  which 
adopted  the  present  constitution  of  the  United  States, 
and  one  of  the  first  senators  under  it.  In  1792  he 
again  retired  from  public  life,  and  died  in  1794. 


PATRICK  HENRY,  an  American  orator  and  statesman, 
was  born  in  Virginia  in  1736,  and  after  receiving  a 
common  school  education,  and  spending  some  time  in 
trade  and  agriculture,  commenced  the  practice  of  the 
law,  after  only  six  weeks  of  preparatory  study.  After 
several  years  of  poverty,  with  the  encumbrance  of  a 
family,  he  first  rose  to  distinction  in  managing  the 
popular  cause  in  the  controversy  between  the  legisla 
ture  and  the  clergy,  touching  the  stipend  which  was 
claimed  by  the  latter.  In  1765  he  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  house  of  burgesses,  with  express  refer 
ence  to  an  opposition  to  the  British  stamp  act.  In 
this  assembly  he  obtained  the  honor  of  being  the  first 
to  commence  the  opposition  to  the  measures  of  the 
British  government,  which  terminated  in  the  revolu 
tion.  He  was  one  of  the  delegates  sent  by  Virginia 
to  the  first  general  congress  of  the  colonies,  in  1774, 
and  in  that  body  distinguished  himself  by  his  boldness 


192  BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES. 

and  eloquence.  In  1776  he  was  appointed  the  first 
governor  of  the  commonwealth,  and  to  this  office  was 
repeatedly  re-elected.  In  1786  he  was  appointed  by 
the  legislature  one  of  the  deputies  to  the  convention 
held  at  Philadelphia,  for  the  purpose  of  revising  the 
federal  constitution.  In  1788*  he  was  a  member  of  the 
convention,  which  met  in  Virginia  to  consider  the 
constitution  of  the  United  States,  and  exerted  himself 
strenuously  against  its  adoption.  In  1794  he  retired 
from  the  bar,  and  died  in  1799.  Without  extensive 
information  upon  legal  or  political  topics,  he  was  a 
natural  orator  of  the  highest  order,  possessing  great 
powers  of  imagination,  sarcasm  and  humor,  united 
with  great  force  and  energy  of  manner,  and  a  deep 
knowledge  of  human  nature. 


THOMAS  JEFFERSON  was  born  in  Albemarle  county, 
Virginia,  in  1743,  and  was  entered  a  student  in  the 
college  of  William  and  Mary.  On  leaving  this  semi 
nary,  he  applied  himself  to  the  study  of  the  law, 
under  the  tuition  of  the  celebrated  George  Wythe,  and 
was  called  to  the  bar  in  1766.  He  soon  occupied  a 
high  stand  in  his  profession,  and  at  the  early  age  of 
twenty-five  entered  the  house  of  burgesses  of  his 
native  state.  In  1774  he  published  a  Summary  View 
of  the  Rights  of  British  America,  a  bold  but  respectful 
pamphlet  addressed  to  the  king.  In  1775  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  continental  congress,  and  in 
the  following  year  draughted  the  Declaration  of  Inde 
pendence.  Between  1777  and  1779  he  was  employed 
together  with  George  Wythe  and  Edmund  Pendleton 
on  a  commission  for  revising  the  laws  of  Virginia.  In 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES.  193 

1779  he  was  elected  governor  of  Virginia,  and  con 
tinued  in  office  until  June,  1781.  In  the  latter  year 
he  commenced  his  celebrated  Notes  on  Virginia,  and 
in  1787  published  it  under  his  own  signature.  In 
November,  1783,  he  again  took  his  seat  in  the  con 
tinental  congress,  and  in  May  following  was  appointed 
minister  plenipotentiary,  to  act  abroad  with  Adams  and 
Franklin  in  the  negotiation  of  commercial  treaties.  In 
1785  he  was  appointed  to  succeed  Dr.  Franklin  as 
minister  to  the  court  of  Versailles,  and  performed  the 
duties  of  this  office  till  1789,  when  he  returned  to  his 
native  country  and  was  placed  by  President  Washington 
at  the  head  of  the  department  of  state.  In  1797  he 
became  vice-president,  and  in  1801  president  of  the 
United  States.  At  the  expiration  of  eight  years  he 
again  retired  to  private  life,  and  took  up  his  residence 
at  Monticello.  He  still  continued  anxious  to  promote 
the  interest  of  science  and  literature,  and  devoted  the 
attention  of  several  years  to  the  establishment  of  a 
university  in  Virginia.  He  died  on  the  fourth  of  July, 
1826,  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  Declaration  of  In 
dependence.  In  stature  Mr.  Jefferson  was  six  feet 
and  two  inches  high.  His  person  was  erect  and  well 
formed,  though  spare.  In  his  manners  he  was  simple 
and  unaffected,  simple  in  his  habits,  and  incessantly 
occupied  with  the  pursuits  of  business  or  study.  Four 
volumes  of  his  Correspondence  have  been  published 
since  his  decease. 


NICHOLAS  BIDDLE,  an  American  naval  officer  was 
born    in    Philadelphia,   in    1750.       He    entered    the 
British  fleet  in  1770,  having  previously  served  several 
17 


194  BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES. 

years  as  a  seaman  on  board  merchant  ships.  On  the 
commencement  of  hostilities  between  the  colonies  and 
the  mother  country,  he  returned  to  Philadelphia,  and 
received  from  Congress  the  captaincy  of  the  Andrew 
Doria,  a  brig  of  14  guns,  employed  in  the  expedition 
against  New  Providence.  Towards  the  close  of  1776, 
he  received  command  of  the  Randolph,  a  new  frigate 
of  32  guns,  with  which  he  soon  captured  a  Jamaica 
fleet  of  four  sail  richly  laden.  This  prize  he  carried 
into  Charleston,  and  was  soon  after  furnished  by  the 
government  of  that  town  with  four  additional  vessels, 
to  attack  several  British  cruisers,  at  that  time  harassing 
the  commerce  of  the  vicinity.  He  fell  in  with  the 
royal  line  of  battle  ship  Yarmouth,  of  64  guns,  on  the 
7th  of  March,  1778,  and  after  an  action  of  twenty 
minutes,  perished  with  all  his  crew  except  four,  by  the 
blowing  up  of  the  ship. 


JOHNSON  BLAKELY,  a  captain  in  the  United  States 
navy  during  the  late  war,  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1781. 
TWO  years  after,  his  father  emigrated  to  the  United 
States  and  settled  in  North  Carolina.  Young  Blakely 
was  placed,  in  1796,  at  the  university  of  North  Caro 
lina,  but  circumstances  having  deprived  him  of  the 
means  of  adequate  support,  he  left  college,  and  in  1800 
obtained  a  midshipman's  warrant.  In  1813  he  was 
appointed  to  the  command  of  the  Wasp,  and  in  this 
vessel  took  his  Brittanic  Majesty's  ship  Reindeer,  after 
an  action  of  nineteen  minutes.  The  Wasp  afterwards 
put  into  L'Orient ;  from  which  port  she  sailed  August 
27th.  On  the  evening  of  the  first  of  September,  1814, 
she  fell  in  with  four  sail,  at  considerable  distances 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES.  195 

from  each  other.  One  of  these  was  the  brig-of-war 
Avon,  which  struck  after  a  severe  action  ;  but  Captain 
B.  was  prevented  from  taking  possession  by  the  ap 
proach  of  another  vessel.  The  enemy  reported  that 
they  had  sunk  the  Wasp  by  the  first  broadside,  but 
she  was  afterwards  spoken  by  a  vessel  off  the  Western 
Isles.  After  this  we  hear  of  her  no  more.  Captain 
Blakely  was  considered  a  man  of  uncommon  courage 
and  intellect. 


DANIEL  BOONE,  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in 
Kentucky,  was  born  in  Virginia,  and  was  from  in 
fancy  addicted  to  hunting  in  the  woods.  He  set  out 
on  an  expedition  to  explore  the  region  of  Kentucky,  in 
May,  1769,  with  five  companions.  After  meeting  with 
a  variety  of  adventures,  Boone  was  left  with  his 
brother,  the  only  white  men  in  the  wilderness.  They 
passed  the  winter  in  a  cabin,  arid  in  the  summer  of 
1770  traversed  the  country  to  the  Cumberland  river. 
In  September,  1773,  Boone  commenced  his  removal 
to  Kentucky  with  his  own  and  five  other  families.  He 
was  joined  by  forty  men,  who  put  themselves  under 
his  direction ;  but  being  attacked  by  the  Indians,  the 
whole  party  returned  to  the  settlements  on  Clinch 
river.  Boone  was  afterwards  employed  by  a  company 
of  North  Carolina,  to  buy,  from  the  Indians,  lands  on 
the  south  side  of  the  Kentucky  river.  In  April,  1775, 
he  built  a  fort  at  Salt-spring,  where  Boonesborough  is 
now  situated.  Here  he  sustained  several  sieges  from 
the  Indians,  and  was  once  taken  prisoner  by  them 
while  hunting  with  a  number  of  his  men.  In  1782 
the  depredations  of  the  savages  increased  to  an  alarm- 
2A 


196  BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES. 

ing  extent,  and  Boone,  with  other  militia  officers,  col 
lected  one  hundred  and  seventy-six  men,  and  went  in 
pursuit  of  a  large  body,  who  had  marched  beyond  the 
Blue  Licks,  forty  miles  from  Lexington.  From  that 
time  till  1798,  he  resided  alternately  in  Kentucky  and 
Virginia.  In  that  year,  having  received  a  grant  of 
two  thousand  acres  of  land  from  the  Spanish  autho 
rities;  he  removed  to  Upper  Louisiana,  with  his  children 
and  followers,  who  were  presented  with  eight  hun 
dred  acres  each.  He  settled  with  them  at  Charette, 
on  the  Missouri  river,  where  he  followed  his  usual 
course  of  life, — hunting  and  trapping  bears, — till  Sep 
tember,  1822,  when  he  died  in  the  eighty-fifth  year  of 
his  age.  He  expired  while  on  his  knees,  taking  aim 
at  some  object,  and  was  found  in  that  position,  with 
his  gun  resting  on  the  trunk  of  a  tree. 


JOHN  BURGOYNE,  was  a  natural  son  of  Lord  Bingley 
he  entered  early  into  the  army;  and  in  1762  displayed 
much  talent  and  enterprise,  in  command  of  a  party  of 
British  troops  in  Portugal.  In  the  American  war,  h* 
led  the  army  which  was  to  penetrate  from  Canada 
into  the  revolted  provinces.  At  first,  he  was  success 
ful  ;  but,  insuperable  obstacles  thickening  round  him, 
he  was  ultimately  compelled  to  surrender  at  Saratoga. 
Disgusted  by  the  conduct  of  the  ministry  after  his  re 
turn,  he  resigned  all  his  employments.  He  died  in 
August,  1792.  Burgoyne  wrote  the  dramas  of  the 
Heiress,  the  Maid  of  the  Oaks,  the  Lord  of  the  Manor, 
and  Richard  Coeur  de  Lion ;  some  pamphlets  in  his 
own  defence  ;  and  a  Probationary  Ode. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES.  197 

JOHN  CHAMPE,  a  soldier  in  the  American  Revolution, 
was  born  in  Louden  county,  Virginia.  In  the  year 
1776  he  was  appointed  a  sergeant-major  in  Lee's  regi 
ment  of  cavalry,  and  after  the  discovery  of  Arnold's 
treason  was  employed  by  Washington  in  a  service  of 
much  danger  and  difficulty;  this  was,  to  visit  the 
British  army  as  a  deserter,  in  order  to  ascertain  if  any 
other  American  officers  were  engaged  in  that  conspiracy, 
and  to  secure  if  possible  the  person  of  Arnold.  In  the 
latter  object  of  his  enterprise  he  unfortunately  failed, 
but  he  effected  his  own  escape  in  safety,  and  returned 
to  his  companions.  Washington  treated  him  munifi 
cently,  and  presented  him  with  his  discharge  from 
further  service,  lest,  in  the  vicissitudes  of  war,  he  should 
fall  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  and  perish  upon  a 
gibbet.  He  died  in  Kentucky  about  the  year  1797 


GEORGE  ROGERS  CLARKE,  colonel  in  the  service  of 
Virginia  against  the  Indians  in  the  revolutionary  war, 
distinguished  himself  greatly  in  that  post,  and  rendered 
efficient  service  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  frontiers.  In 
1779  he  descended  the  Ohio  and  built  fort  Jefferson 
on  the  eastern  bank  of  the  Mississippi;  in  1781  he  re 
ceived  a  general's  commission.  He  died  in  1817  at 
his  seat  near  Louisville,  Kentucky. 


RICHARD  DALE,  an  American  naval  commander,  was 
born  in  Virginia  in  1756.  At  twelve  years  of  age  he 
was  sent  to  sea,  and  in  1776  he  entered  as  a  midship 
man  on  board  of  the  American  brig  of  war  Lexington. 

17* 


198  BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES. 

In  the  following  year  he  was  taken  prisoner  by  a 
British  cruiser,  and  after  a  twelve  month  confinement 
lie  escaped  from  Mill  prison,  and  succeeded  in  reach 
ing  France.  Here  he  joined,  in  the  character  of 
master's  mate,  the  celebrated  Paul  Jones,  then  com 
manding  the  American  ship  Bon  Homme  Richard. 
He  was  soon  raised  to  the  rank  of  first  lieutenant  and 
signalized  himself  in  the  sanguinary  engagement  be 
tween  the  Bon  Homme  Richard  and  the  English 
frigate  Serapis.  In  1794,  the  United  States  made  him 
a  captain  in  the  navy,  and  in  1801  he  took  command 
of  the  American  squadron  which  sailed  in  that  year 
from  Hampton  roads  to  the  Mediterranean.  From  the 
year  1802,  he  passed  his  life  in  Philadelphia,  in  the 
enjoyment  of  a  competent  estate,  and  much  esteemed 
by  his  fellow-citizens.  He  died  in  1826,  leaving  the 
reputation  of  a  brave  and  intelligent  seaman. 


STEPHEN  DECATUR,  a  distinguished  officer  in  the 
navy  of  the  United  States,  was  born  in  Maryland  iu 
1779,  and  received  his  education  in  Philadelphia. 
He  entered  the  navy  in  1798,  and  first  distinguished 
himself  when  in  the  rank  of  lieutenant,  by  the  destruc 
tion  of  the  American  frigate  Philadelphia,  which  had 
run  upon  a  rock  in  the  harbor  of  Tripoli,  and  fallen 
into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  For  this  exploit,  the 
American  Congress  gave  him  a  vote  of  thanks  and  a 
sword,  and  the  president  immediately  sent  him  a  cap 
taincy.  At  the  bombardment  of  Tripoli  the  next  year, 
he  distinguished  himself  by  the  capture  of  two  of  the 
enemy's  boats,  which  were  moored  along  the  mouth 
of  the  harbor,  and  immediately  under  the  batteries. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES.  199 

When  peace  was  concluded  with  Tripoli,  Decatur  re 
turned  home  in  the  Congress,  and  afterward  succeeded 
Commodore  Barron  in  the  command  of  the  Chesapeake. 
In  the  late  war  between  Great  Britain  and  the  United 
States,  his  chief  exploit  was  the  capture  of  the  British 
frigate  Macedonian,  commanded  by  Captain  Garden. 
In  January,  1815,  he  attempted  to  sail  from  New 
York,  which  was  then  blockaded  by  four  British  ships  ; 
but  the  frigate  under  his  command  was  injured  in  pass 
ing  the  bar,  and  was  captured  by  the  whole  squadron, 
after  a  running  fight  of  two  or  three  hours.  He  was 
restored  to  his  country  after  the  conclusion  of  peace. 
In  the  summer  of  the  same  year,  he  was  sent  with  a 
squadron  to  the  Mediterranean,  in  order  to  compel  the 
Algerines  to  desist  from  their  depredations  on  American 
commerce.  He  arrived  at  Algiers  on  the  twenty-eighth 
of  June,  and  in  less  than  forty-eight  hours  terrified 
the  regency  into  an  entire  accession  to  all  his  terms. 
Thence  he  went  to  Tripoli,  where  he  met  with  like 
success.  On  returning  to  the  United  States,  he  was 
appointed  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Commissioners 
for  the  navy,  and  held  that  office  till  March,  1820, 
when  he  was  shot  in  a  duel  with  Commodore  Barron. 
He  was  a  man  of  an  active  and  powerful  frame,  and 
possessed  a  high  degree  of  energy,  sagacity,  and 
courage. 


GEORGE  WYTHE,  a  signer  of  the  Declaration  of 
American  Independence,  was  born  in  Virginia  in  1726. 
His  early  course  was  dissipated,  but  at  the  age  of  thirty 
he  .reformed,  turned  his  attention  to  literature,  studied 
law  and  commenced  its  practice.  At  the  breaking  out 


200  BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES. 

of  the  revolution  he  was  a  distinguished  leader  of  the 
popular  party.  He  was  for  some  time  speaker  of  the 
house  of  burgesses,  and  in  1775  was  elected  a  member 
of  Congress.  He  was  one  of  the  committee  to  revise 
the  laws  of  Virginia  in  1776,  and  had  a  principal 
share  in  preparing  the  code  adopted  in  1779.  Soon 
after  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  three  judges  of  the 
high  court  of  chancery,  and  subsequently  sole  counsel 
lor.  He  was  a  member  of  the  convention  of  Virginia 
to  consider  the  constitution  of  the  United  States. 
His  death,  which  was  attributed  to  poison,  took  place 
in  1806. 


JOHN  PAUL  JONES,  a  native  of  Scotland,  was  born 
in  1747,  at  Selkirk,  and  settled  in  America  when  young. 
He  distinguished  himself  by  his  bravery  in  the 
American  service,  during  the  contest  with  the  mother 
country,  particularly  in  a  desperate  action  with  the 
Serapis  frigate,  which  he  captured.  He  died  in  Paris 
in  1792,  and  was  buried  at  the  expense  of  the  national 
convention.  Jones  was  not  only  a  man  of  signal 
courage,  but  also  of  great  talent,  and  keen  sagacity, 
wrote  poetry,  and  in  France  aspired  to  be  a  man  of 
fashion.  His  memorials  and  correspondence  are  quite 
voluminous. 


GEORGE  WALTON,  a  signer  of  the  Declaration  of 
American  Independence,  was  born  in  Frederic  county, 
Virginia,  about  the  year  1740.  He  was  early  ap 
prenticed  to  a  carpenter,  but  at  the  expiration  of  his 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES.  201 

apprenticeship  he  removed  to  Georgia  and  entered  the 
office  of  an  attorney  at  law.  In  1776  he  was  elected 
to  the  continental  congress.  At  the  siege  of  Savannah 
he  was  wounded  and  taken  prisoner,  but  was  exchanged 
in  September,  1779.  In  the  following  month  he  was 
appointed  governor  of  the  state,  and  in  the  succeeding 
January  was  elected  a  member  of  Congress  for  two 
years. 


DAVID  RAMSEY,  an  American  historian,  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  in  1749,  was  educated  at  Princeton 
College,  and  commenced  the  study  of  medicine.  After 
practising  a  short  time  in  Maryland,  he  removed  to 
Charleston,  South  Carolina,  in  1773,  and  soon  rose 
to  an  extensive  practice.  He  took  an  active  and  early 
part  in  the  cause  of  the  colonies,  and  was  for  some 
time  a  surgeon  in  the  revolutionary  army.  In  1782 
he  was  chosen  to  a  seat  in  Congress.  He  wrote  a 
History  of  the  Revolution  in  South  Carolina ;  a  History 
of  the  American  Revolution  ;  a  Life  of  Washington ;  a 
History  of  South  Carolina ;  and  a  History  of  the 
United  States.  He  died  in  1815. 


CHARLES  COTESWORTH  PINCKNEY,  a  distinguished 
officer  of  the  revolutionary  army,  was  born  in  South 
Carolina,  received  his  education  in  England,  and 
studied  law  in  the  Temple.  On  returning  to  his 
native  province  in  1769,  he  devoted  himself  to  the 
successful  practice  of  his  profession.  On  the  com 
mencement  of  hostilities  he  renounced  law  for  the 


202  BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES. 

study  of  military  tactics,  and  was  soon  promoted  to 
the  command  of  the  first  regiment  of  Carolina  infantry. 
He  was  subsequently  aid-de-camp  to  Washington,  and 
in  this  capacity  at  the  battles  of  Brandywine  and 
Germantown.  On  the  surrender  of  Charleston  he 
was  taken  prisoner,  and  remained  so  till  all  opportunity 
of  gaining  fresh  reputation  in  the  field,  had  passed. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  convention  which  formed 
the  federal  constitution,  and  in  1796  was  appointed 
minister  to  France.  When  preparations  were  making 
for  war  on  account  of  the  expected  French  invasion, 
Mr.  Pinckney  was  nominated  a  major-general,  but  he 
soon  had  an  opportunity  of  retiring  to  the  quiet  of 
private  life.  He  was  afterwards  president  of  the 
Cincinnati  Society  of  the  United  States.  He  died  in 
1825. 


DANIEL  MORGAN,  a  distinguished  officer  in  the  army 
of  the  American  Revolution,  was  born  in  New  Jersey, 
and  removed  to  Virginia  in  1755.  He  enlisted  in 
Braddock's  expedition  as  a  private  soldier,  and  on  the 
defeat  of  that  general  returned  to  his  occupation  as  a 
farmer.  At  the  commencement  of  the  Revolution  he 
was  appointed  to  the  command  of  a  troop  of  horse, 
and  joined  the  army  under  Washington,  then  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Boston.  He  distinguished  himself 
very  much  in  the  expedition  against  Quebec,  where 
he  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  On  the  exchange 
of  prisoners,  he  rejoined  the  American  army,  was  ap 
pointed  to  the  command  of  a  select  rifle  corps,  and 
detached  to  assist  General  Gates  on  the  northern  fron 
tier,  where  he  contributed  materially  to  the  capture  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES.  203 

General  Burgoyne.  After  a  short  retirement  from 
service,  on  account  of  ill  health,  he  was  appointed 
brigadier-general  by  brevet,  and  commanded  at  the 
force  by  which  Colonel  Tarleton  was  routed  at  the 
battle  of  Cowpens.  He  soon  after  resigned  his  com 
mission.  In  1794  he  commanded  the  militia  of 
Virginia  called  out  to  suppress  the  insurrection  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  continued  in  the  service  till  1795. 
He  afterwards  was  elected  to  a  seat  in  Congress.  He 
died  in  1799. 


JAMES  NICHOLSON,  an  officer  in  the  American  navy, 
was  born  in  Chestertown,  Maryland,  in  1737.  He 
followed  the  life  of  a  sailor  till  the  year  1763,  when 
he  married  and  settled  in  the  city  of  New  York. 
Here  he  remained  until  1771,  when  he  returned  to  his 
native  province.  At  the  commencement  of  the  Revolu 
tion,  the  government  of  Maryland  built  and  equipped 
a  ship  of  war,  called  the  Defence,  and  the  command 
of  her  was  intrusted  to  Nicholson.  He  performed 
various  exploits  during  the  war,  and  before  the  close 
of  it  was  taken  prisoner  and  carried  into  New  York. 
He  died  in  1806. 


JAMES  MONROE,  President  of  the  United  States, 
born  in  Virginia,  in  1759,  and  was  educated  in  William 
and  Mary  College.  He  entered  the  revolutionary  war 
in  1776  as  a  cadet,  was  at  the  battles  of  Haerlem 
Heights  and  White  Plains,  and  in  the  attack  on  Trenton, 
and  rose  through  the  rank  of  lieutenant  to  that  of  cap- 


204  BIOGRAPHICAL   NOTICES. 

tain.  He  was  present  at  the  battles  of  Brandywine. 
Germantown,  and  Monmouth,  as  aid  to  Lord  Sterling* 
Resuming  the  study  of  the  law,  he  entered  the  office 
of  Mr.  Jefferson,  and  after  being  a  member  of  the 
assembly  of  Virginia  and  the  council,  he  was  elected 
in  1783,  a  member  of  the  old  Congress.  In  1790  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  Senate  of  the  United 
States,  in  1794  went  as  minister  plenipotentiary  to 
France,  and  in  1799  was  appointed  governor  of 
Virginia.  In  1803  he  was  appointed  minister  extra 
ordinary  to  France,  in  the  same  year  minister  to  Lon 
don,  and  in  the  next  minister  to  Spain.  In  1806  he 
was  again  appointed  in  conjunction  with  Mr.  William 
Pinkney,  minister  to  London.  He  was  subsequently 
governor  of  Virginia  ;  in  1811  was  appointed  secretary 
of  state,  and  continued  to  exercise  the  duties  of  this 
department,  and  for  some  time  those  of  the  department 
of  war,  till  1817.  In  that  year  he  was  chosen  presi 
dent  of  the  Union,  and  in  1821  was  re-elected  by  a 
vote,  unanimous,  with  the  single  exception  of  one  vote 
in  New  Hampshire.  He  died  in  New  York,  on  the 
fourth  of  July,  1831. 


ARTHUR  MIDDLETON,  a  signer  of  the  Declaration  of 
American  Independence,  was  born  in  South  Carolina 
in  1743,  and  received  his  education  in  Europe.  Soon 
after  his  return  home,  he  began  to  take  an  active  part 
in  the  revolutionary  movements,  and  in  1776  was 
chosen  one  of  the  delegates  from  his  native  state  to  the 
American  Congress.  At  the  close  of  the  year  1777 
he  resigned  his  seat,  leaving  behind  a  character  for 
the  purest  patriotism  and  unwavering  resolution.  In 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES.  205 

the  year  1779  many  of  the  southern  plantations  were 
ravaged,  and  that  of  Mr.  Middleton  did  not  escape. 
On  the  surrender  of  Charleston  he  was  taken  prisoner 
and  kept  in  confinement  for  nearly  a  year.  In  1781 
he  was  appointed  a  representative  to  Congress,  and 
again  in  1782.  In  the  latter  year  he  went  into  retire 
ment,  and  died  in  1787. 


JOHN  ADAMS,  a  distinguished  patriot  of  the  American 
Revolution,  was  born  in  1735,  at  Braintree,  Massachu 
setts.  He  was  educated  at  the  University  of  Cam 
bridge,  and  received  the  degree  of  master  of  arts  in 
1758.  At  this  time  he  entered  the  office  of  Jeremiah 
Gridley,  a  lawyer  of  the  highest  eminence,  to  complete 
his  legal  studies  ;  and  in  the  next  year  he  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  of  Suffolk.  Mr.  Adams  at  an  early  age  es 
poused  the  cause  of  his  country,  and  received  numer 
ous  marks  of  the  public  confidence  and  respect.  He 
took  a  prominent  part  in  every  leading  measure,  and 
served  on  several  committees  which  reported  some  of 
the  most  important  state  papers  of  the  time.  He  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  Congress,  and  was  among  the 
foremost  in  recommending  the  adoption  of  an  indepen 
dent  government.  It  has  been  affirmed  by  Mr.  Jeffer 
son  himself,  "  that  the  great  pillar  of  support  to  the 
Declaration  of  Independence,  and  its  ablest  advocate 
and  champion  on  the  floor  of  the  house  was  John 
Adams."  In  1777  he  was  chosen  commissioner  to 
the  court  of  Versailles,  in  the  place  of  Mr.  Dean,  who 
was  recalled.  On  his  return,  about  a  year  afterwards, 
he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  convention  to  prepare 
a  form  of  government  for  the  state  of  Massachusetts, 
18 


206  BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES. 

and  placed  on  the  sub-committee  chosen  to  draught  the 
project  of  a  constitution.  Three  months  after  his  re 
turn,  Congress  sent  him  abroad  with  two  commissions, 
one  as  a  minister  plenipotentiary  to  negotiate  a  peace, 
the  other  to  form  a  commercial  treaty  with  Great 
Britain.  In  June,  1780,  he  was  appointed  in  the  place 
of  Mr.  Laurens  ambassador  to  Holland,  and  in  1782 
he  repaired  to  Paris,  to  commence  the  negotiation  for 
peace,  havjng  previously  obtained  assurance  that  Great 
Britain  would  recognise  the  independence  of  the 
United  States.  At  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Adams  was 
appointed  the  first  minister  to  London.  In  1789  he 
was  elected  vice-president  of  the  United  States,  and 
on  the  resignation  of  Washington,  succeeded  to  the 
presidency  in  1797.  After  his  term  of  four  years  had 
expired,  it  was  found,  on  the  new  election,  that  his 
adversary,  Mr.  Jefferson,  had  succeeded  by  the  majority 
of  one  vote.  On  retiring  to  his  farm  in  Quincy,  Mr. 
Adams  occupied  himself  with  agriculture,  obtaining 
amusement  from  the  literature  and  politics  of  the  day. 
The  remaining  years  of  his  life  were  passed  in  almost 
uninterrupted  tranquillity.  He  died  on  the  fourth  of 
July,  1826,  with  the  same  words  on  his  lips,  which 
>  fifty  years  before,  on  that  glorious  day,  he  had  uttered 
on  the  floor  of  Congress — "  Independence  for  ever." 
Mr.  Adams  is  the  author  of  An  Essay  on  Canon  and 
Feudal  Law  ;  a  series  of  letters  published  under  the 
signature  of  Novanglus  ;  and  Discourses  on  Davila. 


BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN,  a  philosopher  and  statesman, 
the  son  of  a  soap-boiler  and  tallow  chandler,  was  born 
in  1706,  at  Boston,  in  America.  He  was  apprenticed 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES.  207 

as  a  printer  to  his  brother,  at  Boston.  It  was  while 
he  was  with  his  brother  that  he  began  to  try  his 
powers  of  literary  composition.  Street  ballads  and 
articles  in  a  newspaper  were  his  first  efforts.  Dis 
satisfied  with  the  manner  in  which  he  was  treated  by 
his  relative,  he,  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  privately 
quitted  him,  and  went  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  ob 
tained  employment.  Deluded  by  a  promise  of  patron 
age  from  the  governor,  Sir  William  Keith,  he  visited 
England  to  procure  the  necessary  materials,  for  esta 
blishing  a  printing  office  in  Philadelphia  ;  but,  on  his 
arrival  at  London,  he  found  that  he  had  been  deceived, 
and  he  was  obliged  to  work  as  a  journeyman  for 
eighteen  months.  While  he  was  in  the  British 
metropolis,  he  wrote  a  Dissertation  on  Liberty  and 
Necessity,  Pleasure  and  Pain.  In  1726  he  returned 
to  Philadelphia  ;  not  long  after  which  he  entered  into 
business  as  a  printer  and  stationer,  and,  in  1728,  esta- 
tablished  a  newspaper.  His  prudence  soon  placed 
him  among  the  most  prosperous  of  the  citizens,  and 
the  influence  which  prosperity  naturally  gave  was  en 
hanced  by  his  activity  and  talent.  Chiefly  by  his  ex 
ertions,  a  public  library,  a  fire  preventing  company,  an 
insurance  company,  and  a  voluntary  association  for 
defence,  were  established  at  Philadelphia.  In  1732, 
he  began  Poor  Richard's  Almanac.  His  first  public 
employment  was  that  of  clerk  to  the  general  assembly 
of  Pennsylvania  ;  his  next  that  of  postmaster;  and  he 
was  subsequently  chosen  as  a  representative.  Philoso 
phy,  also,  now  attracted  his  attention,  and  he  began 
those  inquiries  into  the  nature  of  electricity,  the  results 
of  which  have  ranked  him  high  among  men  of  science. 
In  1753,  he  was  appointed  deputy  postmaster-general 
of  British  America ;  and  from  1757  to  1762,  he  resided 


208  BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES. 

in  London,  as  agent  for  Pennsylvania  and  other  colonies. 
The  last  of  these  offices  was  intrusted  to  him  again  in 
1764,  and  he  held  it  till  the  breaking  out  of  the  con 
test  in  1775.  After  his  return  to  America,  he  took  an 
active  part  in  the  cause  of  liberty,  and,  in  1778,  he 
was  despatched,  by  the  Congress,  as  ambassador  to 
France.  The  treaty  of  alliance  with  the  French 
government,  and  the  treaties  of  peace,  in  1782  and 
1783,  as  well  as  treaties  with  Sweden  and  Prussia, 
were  signed  by  him.  On  his  reaching  Philadelphia, 
in  September,  1785,  his  arrival  was  hailed  by  applaud 
ing  thousands  of  his  countrymen,  who  conducted  him 
in  triumph  to  his  residence.  He  died  April  17thT 
1790.  His  Memoirs,  written  by  himself,  but  left  un 
finished,  and  his  Philosophical,  Political,  and  Mis 
cellaneous  Works,  have  been  published  by  his  grand 
son,  in  six  volumes  octavo. 


SAMUEL  ADAMS,  one  of  the  most  remarkable  men 
connected  with  the  American  Revolution,  was  born  at 
Boston  in  1722.  He  was  educated  at  Harvard  College, 
and  received  his  honors  in  1740.  He  was  one  of  the 
first  who  organized  measures  of  resistance  to  the 
mother  country ;  and  for  the  prominent  part  which  he 
took  in  these  measures  he  was  proscribed  by  the 
British  government.  During  the  revolutionary  war, 
he  was  one  of  the  most  active  and  influential  asserters 
of  American  freedom  and  independence.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  legislature  of  Massachusetts  from  1766 
to  1774,  when  he  was  sent  to  the  first  Congress  of  the 
old  confederation.  He  was  one  of  the  signers  of  the 
Declaration  of  1776,  for  the  adoption  of  which  he  had 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES.  209 

always  been  one  of  the  warmest  advocates.  In  1781 
he  retired  from  Congress,  but  only  to  receive  from  his 
native  state  additional  proofs  of  her  confidence  in  his 
talents  and  integrity.  He  had  already  been  an  active 
member  of  the  convention  that  formed  her  constitution, 
and  after  it  went  into  effect,  he  was  placed  in  the 
senate  of  the  state,  and  for  several  years  presided  over 
that  body.  In  1789  he  was  elected  lieutenant-governor, 
and  held  that  office  till  1794  ;  upon  the  death  of  Han 
cock,  he  was  chosen  governor,  and  was  annually  re- 
elected  till  1797,  when  he  retired  from  public  life.  He 
died  in  1803.  The  following  encomium  upon  Mr. 
Adams  is  from  a,  work  upon  the  American  Rebellion, 
by  Mr.  Galloway,  published  in  Great  Britain,  1780  ; 
"  He  eats  little,  drinks  little,  sleeps  little,  thinks  much, 
and  is  most  indefatigable  in  the  pursuit  of  his  object.  It 
was  this  man,  who,  by  his  superior  application,  managed 
at  once  the  factions  in  Congress  at  Philadelphia,  and 
the  factions  of  New  England." 


WILLIAM  PINKNEY,  an  eloquent  lawyer  and  states 
man,  was  born  in  Maryland  in  1765,  and  prepared 
himself  for  the  bar  under  the  instruction  of  Judge 
Chase.  He  was  admitted  to  practice  in  1786,  and 
soon  gave  indications  of  possessing  superior  powers. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  convention  of  Maryland 
which  ratified  the  federal  constitution.  In  1776  he 
was  appointed  one  of  the  commissioners  under  the 
British  treaty.  The  state  of  Maryland  also  employed 
him  to  procure  a  settlement  of  its  claims  on  the  Bank 
of  England,  and  he  recovered  for  it  the  sum  of  eight 
hundred  thousand  dollars.  This  detained  him  in 


210 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES. 


England  till  the  year  1804,  when  he  returned  and  re 
sumed  his  professional  labors.  In  1806  he  was  sent 
as  envoy  extraordinary  to  London,  and  in  1808  re 
ceived  the  authority  of  minister  plenipotentiary.  He 
returned  to  the  United  States  in  1811,  and  soon  after 
was  appointed  attorney-general.  This  office  he  held 
till  1814.  During  the  incursion  of  the  British  into 
Maryland,  he  commanded  a  battalion,  and  was  wounded 
in  the  battle  of  Bladensburgh  in  August,  1814.  He 
was  afterwards  representative  in  Congress,  minister 
plenipotentiary  to  Russia,  envoy  to  Naples,  and  in 
1819  senator  in  Congress.  In  the  last  office  he  con 
tinued  till  his  death  in  1822. 


OLIVER  HAZARD  PERRY,  an  American  naval  officer, 
was  born  in  Rhode  Island  in  1785.  Entering  the 
navy  in  1798,  he  served  in  the  Mediterranean  in  the 
expedition  against  Tripoli,  and  distinguished  himself 
in  the  late  war  with  Great  Britain  by  obtaining  a 
splendid  victory  over  a  superior  force  on  Lake  Erie. 
For  this  exploit  he  was  raised  to  the  rank  of  captain. 
He  commanded  the  Java  in  the  expedition  to  the 
Mediterranean  under  Commodore  Decatur.  He  died 
in  the  West  Indies  in  1820. 


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